DECLARED “BLACK”

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1934, Page 6

DECLARED “BLACK”

the Monterey at Auckland. UNLOADING UNDER DIFFICULTY. (Per Press Association, Copyright). AUCKLAND, June 15. Because the cargo was loaded by monunion longshoreman, and the crew consists of free labourers, the Auckland wiatersidei's to-day ignored the c-a 11 for labour to discharge the Moncterey, which is laden with about 700 tons of general merchandise for Auckland. Berthed at 7.30 a-m., the all white liner, was completely “black” to thp eyes of watersidei's. In addition, ' regular taxis 'and carriers shunned the wharf and its vicinity, / and the problem of meeting pass&rjryjTs’ requirements was left to » few private taxi and cars. Tlie ship’s crew, supplemented by about ten. free labourers, began discharging the cargo under considerable difficulties.

During the morning, .a motor truck ■was being unloaded when it slipped from the slings at a critical moment, and disappeared over the side of the wharf.

A strong police guard wa« on or near the wharf before the ship arrived, and it was later maintained. The wharf was closed to the public,, and about five hundred people spent the morning idly watching developments from Quay street.

Radio advices received by the Monterey last night indicate a possible settlement of the trouble on the Pacific coast, but whatever happens it is intended the- Monterey shall clear Auckland for Sydney at len to-night. .passengers by the Monterey sav thesituation at ;San Francisco and Loi? Angeles was tense because of the strike here. Strong police guards were everywhere on the waterfront.

The passengers on arrival from-’Frisco were taken to the ship’s side by railway train and experienced no difficulty.

On the harbour, launches were flying about in every direction, amd some contained strike pickets trying to prevent free labour being put on the ship. The crux of the dispute was the union’s demand for a . “closed shop.’' ;The icompa’riieisL'had indicated they would agree to practically all other demands, but woiildtl-not foncede to theunion’s privilege rpf selecting labour -Mr E. S. Walker, passenger traffic manager of the Oceanic line, said thedispute was now', in the Government’:? hands. He mentioned that some of the evew of the Monterey who walked off were Australians. ■ who had families in Los Angeles. They were very foolish because they' would be deported within sixty days.