FARMERS ARRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 283, 3 November 1925, Page 9

FARMERS ARRIVE

PARTY REACHES CAIRNS. PLEDGED TO LOAD SHIPS. (By Electric 'Telegraph—Copyright.) Received November 3, 10.40 a.m. BRISBANE, Nov. 3. A party of 600 farmers and cane cutters lias arrived at Cairns pledged to assist in the loading and coaling of vessels where the witersiders refuse to work except under the rotary system. Although tho secret ballot overwhelmingly favoured a resitm|)tion of work under the present conditions, for weeks produce has hee.-i accumulating on the wharves and further storage sjiace for sugar is unprocurable. The farmers will attend at the wharves today. The chairman of tho transport strike committee in Brisbane announced that tho committee had agreed to supply sufficient coal to tho Port Hardy to enable tlie refrigerators to bo worked.—Press Association. BLOW TO COMMUNISTS. MANY WATERSIDJSRS START WORK. Received November 3. 11.10 a.in. BRISBANE, Nov. 3. The arrival of'the farmers at Cairns has delivered a smashing blow to the Communists attonijiting to force the hands of the local branch of the Watersiders’ Federation and hold up produce in the district valued at over £1,000,000. Many ugly incidents occurred during the day, but there were no serious casualties. Many extremists were forced to flee from the town and others wore locked up in gaol to save them from serious injury. While » large body of farmers was assembling near the wharf a foreigner, who has been prominent in strike matters, brandished a revolver. The prompt action of the police prevented the possible lynching of the man, who was removed to the lock-up and closely guarded by the police. Before the end of the day 80 watersidors, free from the. intimidating tactics of the extremists, commenced work. 'Tho president of the local branch of the watersiders, who has been prominently associated with the hostile attitude adopted towards the farmers, openly challenged them to fight. Farmers searched for him and found him at home, where he tendered a- written apology and resigned as president ol tho federation.—Press Association.

FEELING AT BOWEN. STRIKE WILL COLLAPSE THIS WEEK. Received November 3. 11.30 a.m. BRISBANE, Nov. 3. As the steamer Pijiiriki was rounding Kangaroo Point the strikers bombarded the vessel with stones, but the missiles fell short. 'The general feeling on. the waterfront at Bowen is that the strike will collapse this week. Many inquiries have been received from the strikers as lo tile terms they will receive it they return to work. The police at Bowen have received official instructions that under no circumstances must tho farmers bo allowed to lay hands on tho jiroperty of the Bailway Department. This has prevented tho Port Hardy being coaled.— Press Association.

POLICE AND STRIKERS

HOSTILITIES ON WATERFRONT. PERTH, Nov. 2. Hostilities broke out between the police and strikers alongside the steamer Borda to-day. In flic battle, which raged for two hours, many men were severely injured. Fully a thousand strikers gathered on the wharves, owing to tho fact that an attempt was to he made to get the Borda away. They threw stones, coal and iron holts at the jioliee, and rushed them. The jiolice, numbering a hundred, made a baton charge and tl'e ensuing scene is said to have resembled a battlefield—men with split heads lying everywhere. Tho mob rushed aboard tho Argyllshire, where a striker armed with a waddy, which lie used freely, held tho gangway. Eventually, the police hoarded the vessel and arrested about a hundred men after a terrific hand-to-hand fight. Guerilla warfgge is now raging, and reinforcements of police are rushing to the scene. The Commissioner of Police has issued orders instructing his men to fire if they aro again rushed.—Press Association.

SOME EXCITING SCENES. ATTACK BY~STRIKERS. MANY INJURIES ON BOTH SIDES. Received November .3. 10.30 a.m. PERTH, Nov. 3. AVhile tlie waterside workers at Fremantle viewed the rioting as interested spectators. British seamen feverishly armed themselves in the vicinity of the Borda. The police were very patient and submitted to a bombardment with lumps of coal and stones for about two hours. Viewing this inaction as weakness, many strikers approached to close quarters, taking careful aim before throwing. The mob then appeared to be getting out of all control and the police charged. The rioters were swept back, but before this was accomplished the police had to pass through a heavy hail of coal and stones Rushing to safety, the strikers ran to another steamer with the police close at their heels. Simultaneously mounted troopers made a spectacular charge down the roadway parallel with the quay. Many arrests were made and the bleeding heads of the police and strikers testified to the vigour of the proceedings. The captain of the Borda applied for police protection while steam was raised, and a party of police was stationed on the vessel, wdiile others remained on the wharf. Hearing of this, the strikers gathered on the wharf armed with hammers, iron bars, and short lengths of wood. The secretary of the Seamen's Union arrived on the scene and addressed the men, whereupon the latter’s attitude changed from a missive demonstration to action. A bugle sounded from nmong the strikers, who then commenced to attack. The bugle was also the signal for the firemen and seamen on the Borda to lower rope ladders ovGr the side of the ship, the plan evidently being to overpower the police on the wharf and then take possession of the ship. After a short struggle on board the strikers were overpowered. It was then discovered that a considerable quantity of ammunition had been accumulated on the ship. There was. a brief cessation of hostilities and then tho strikers again attacked Iho police, but were dispersed after 65 had been arrested. Both tho police and the strikers pro-

sented a dreadful spectacle with their faces and heads streaming with blood. One striker and one policeman were sent to hospital. The Borda later was taken from her berth and anchored in the roads. —Press Association. STRIKERS CORNERED. CAPTUR'D IN THE STOKEHOLD. Received November 3, 10.40 a.m. PERTH, Nov. 3. After the attack commenced the strikers rushed to the Argyllshire, from the deck of which they were assisted by other strikers in bombarding the police. The latter boarded the Argyllshire, and after an exciting chase under a heavy bombardment of coal, finally cornered the strikers in the stokehold. Later advices state that many on both sides were sent to hospital. Under instructions from the .Seamen’s Union the crew of the pilot steamer refused to convey a pilot to the motor ship Enton on Saturday, and the pilot was carried by the police launch.—Press Association. STEWARDS AS~STOKERS. Received November 3, 10.40 a.m. ADELAIDE, Nov. 3. After two months’ delay the steamer Ascanius sailed, stoked by the stewards.—Press Association. LUMPERS OUT OF WORK. DONATIONS TO STRIKERS STOPPED. Received November 3, 10.40 a.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 3. The coal lumpers are badly affected by the seamen’s refusal to work colliers carrying coal to the- tied up ships. More than half the total membership . of the union is unemployed and the ( union has stopped further donations . to the strikers’ funds. —Press Asso- , ciation. . DEPORTATION BOARD. i CASE A'GAINST JOHNSON. i i Received November 3, 10.30 a.m. _ SYDNEY, Nov. 3. I The Deportation Board has com- 1 menced tile hearing of the case against ! Johnson, wherein lie is called upon to 1 show cause why he should not be de- ; ported.—Press Association.

PORT DARWIN’S SEAMEN. OBJECTION TO FREE LABOUR. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Nov. 3. Further trouble developul with regard to the striking seamen who came from Wellington to join the Port Darwin. Alter several delays the men were taken aboard the vessel, but subsequently they declined to work and were returned to the shore, giving as a reason that they would not work with free labourers. The seamen concerned were formerly members of the crew of the Arawa and were imprisoned at Wellington. Upon release they were brought toGisbobrne to join the Port Darwin, which came direct to Gisborne from Sydney, where she was held up by the strike, and was partially n aimed by free labour. Several of the -strikers were to-day found work with the local watersiders. It is stated by the agents that the sailing of the Port Darwin will not be affected.