NEARLY A RIOT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 100, 24 October 1913, Page 8

NEARLY A RIOT

MEN BURST THROUGH THE GATES SEVERAL ASSAULTS. Through the lunch hour things were fairly quiet in the square, but at 1 o'clock the crowd began to collect again. One individual 1 appeared with a photo, enlargement of a snapshot of an alleged " scab," the name being given underneath. He paraded round among the crowd with the photo, hung by a string round his neck like a sandwich-man. There were cries of " the scab," and voluble objurgations. The throng thickened round the gates, and there was a 'threatening murmur all the time at carts passing in and out. Taking advantage of the entry of a cart the crowd rushed ithrough the gates, and the small force of .police and Harbour Board officials being powerless againßt their numbers, they at once had a free hand. Their object was the coastal steamer Defender, where four men from the office of Messrs. Bannatyne and Co., Mr. Kitching in charge, were loading the vessel. A scuffle ensued, and. Mr. Kitching received a blow, to which he retaliated. The arrival of Mr. Jrfunro, Chief Wharfinger, and other officials put a stop to this, and the crowd surged into F shed, where a noi&y scene followed. Some order was restored, and after (speeches by a watersiders' delegate and by Mr. Munro, the union men left the whaTf on the condition that the four free workers also left. A guarantee was obtained from the unionists that the "free" men would be allowed io go back to their office unmolested, and at length the latter did so. As they made their way through the crowd there was some booing and hooting, but they reached their destination unharmed. Speeches were made in front of Bannatyne's office, arid cheers were given for Mr. Kitching and his co-workere and for Mr. Munro. On the* way back to the wharf Mr. Munro paused by the entrance to Queen's Chambers to answer questions by strikers. He said, if the uniop gave a guarantee that (the free la- ' bourer) would not be molested in any way he would let the man go. This was received with applause, and the Harbour Board's officers made their way back to the wharf. i