FREE-FOR-ALL FIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 October 1925, Page 5

FREE-FOR-ALL FIGHT

SCENES ON THE LEITRIM. CLASH WITH STRIKERS POiLIGE RESTORE ORDER,, CBY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 12. The steamer Leitrim got away for Lyttelton at 5..30 o’clock yesterday after noon, after an exciting period of preparation. Strikers had manned the ship, ibut when the time for departure arrived, they refused to take the steamer to sea, A oalL for free labour met with such a response that all requirements were met, but when these men went aboard, events- began to move with vigor and celerity. Their advent was not viewed favourably by the original seamen, who disputed their right to .step on to the deck, and a free fight under Rafferty rules was quickly in progress, a savage-set-to, in which the men stood toe to toe and swung heavily with both hands or grappled in grim combat. According to eye-witnesses, the situation was becoming ugly when a posse of police came aboard and in a very few minutes reduced the scene of chaos to one of order. The strikers pugnaciouisness iseemed to evaporate into docility and the ship got away, as stated, about 5.30, carrying several police to hold the balance between the parties in the event of any tendency to hos tility developing on the voyage.

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. PLENTY OF LABOUR. FOR SHIPS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. The indications are that by tomorrow or Tuesday all the vessels which have been hung up here as a result of the strike waiting to sail to other ports Will have left hero. As intimated on Saturday the back of the trouble has been broken, and men have been returning to their ships under the protection of the police in Wellington. After securing her full complement the Leitrim, which has been held in the stream for some time, was to be despatched to Lyttelton this evening. It was intended that the vessel should sail at noon, but one or two minor repairs had to be effected, thus causing a delay of some hours. Information was sought from the police in respect to the release of the imprisoned men of the Arawa. It was revealed that these men, some if not the whole, will be taken on board to-morrow in order to secure the vessel’s departure. Tlic men will on Monday be given a final opportunity to sign the agreement requested by the shipowners before being taken on for the trip Home, and if they refuse to do this their last chance of rejoining their ship will have gone by. In the event of their not complying with the owners’ terms of re-engagement, adequate arrangements for manning the Araw T a have been made. As Superintendent Mcllveney put it, “the crews will be all right.” It was ascertained that ample free labour is offering; more than will actually be availed of. Effective stops have also been taken to prevent an occurrence of irritation tactics, such as were adopted by the men of the Hororata at Lyttelton, who returned to shore just before the vessel was ready to sail on the pretext that it was short handed'. The shipping people here wore fully aware of the possibility of this happening and steps had already been taken to guard against it. Altogether the police in Wellington have handled from 100 to 150 strikers from-various ships.

A SURPRISE FOR STRIKERS SHIP SAILS WITHOUT THEM. WITH FREE LABOUR CREW. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 11. After undertaking to resume their duties aboard ship if released from gaol the majority of the crew of the Hororata again left the vessel on Saturday, their reason being that she was undermanned in all departments and that there was free labour on hoard. The master gave an assurance that extra hands would be obtained, but seven men walked ashore and were followed at intervals by the greater part of the ship ’s company.

The Hororata was taken out into flic stream, and the men received a rude shock when they found that she had sailed at 1.50 p.m. The shipping company had quietly put on board sufficient free labour to man the vessel, and she took her departure.

It is alleged that the reason why the men wore anxious for release from gaol was to influence the crew on the Tongr* riro, which, however, sailed the day before they were liberated. They then decided to delay the Hororata over the week-end and took it for granted that they would be allowed to sleep on board again as at the beginning of the strike.

The removal of the vessel into the stream upset their calculations and they found themselves on shore without accommodation and practically penniless. A number realised that they had erred in their tactics and resolved to proceed in the ship without further trouble. They had actually asked for a launch to /take them out to the Hororata, but then the launch which had taken out the free labour returned with the information that the steamer had sailed and they were not required.

TAINUI’S MEN. ADVANCE OF PAY REFUSED. AUCKLAND, Oct. 11. The only development regarding the seamen’s strike, here was the arrival of sixty-five of the Tainui’s crew from Wellington on Saturday morning. A dozen police met the train on arrival and took the men to the Tainui at Queen’s wharf in two charabancs. Three of the men, however, did not rejoin the Tainui, but reported at the strikers’ headquarters instead. Those men who went on board the Tainui asked for bedding, which was given. They then demanded an advance of pay, which was refused, and in consequence a number of the men left the vessel.