ANOTHER SCENE AT THE NAVUA

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

ANOTHER SCENE AT THE NAVUA

MAN INJURED BY A BOTTLE. Having satisfied themselves that tlie employees of Messrs. Bannatyne and Co. were not likely to resume work at the Defender, the unionists then again assembled in front of the main gates at the Queen's Wharf. A cry soon went rp to rush the Navtia, and the crowd broke through the barricade, tuid then forcibly demanded that the free labourers working on the Navua should come ashore. Several watersiders attempted to hoard j the vessel, and some were successful. In the rush through the opening at the bow an employee was hit with a broken bottle, which inflicted a severe wound. He was taken away for medical attention. The mob jeered and hooted those .(working on J>oard ; whilst-:.

the watersiders sorted out the "free" men. When one of the unionists made an endeavour to come off the vessel ' again he was apparently roughly | handled by an officer, and at this the strikers became infuriated, and a riot seemed likely. Meantime the gangway was lowered amidst loud hooting. A strike leader was, after persisting for a \vhile, given a hearing, and then appealed to the men to allow Mr. Munro to be heard. The gangway was again raised, and the chief wharfinger assured the men that if they would go off the wharf the "free" labourers on board the ship would come ashore. A "picket" on the ship ascertained that there were four "scabs" aboard, and when satisfied that these would do no more work the watersiders changed their scene of operations. During tho rush on this boat' one worker — evidently well known to the strikers — was asked by several to "put on his coat," but the earnest appeals had no effect, with the exception that he threatened to seriously hurt one of the leaders of the strikers.