DUNEDIN PORT IDLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15447, 3 November 1913, Page 9

DUNEDIN PORT IDLE.

SHIPPING LAID UP.

THE PICKETS ' ACTIVE.

WATERSIDERS NOT UNANIMOUS. sr

[BY TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedin, Sunday. Berths at Dunedin were stripped bare of shipping yesterday morning, when the Kamo threw off her lines and steamed to Port Chalmers, there to "lay up," and the wharves themselves reflected this desolation. ' Not more than 40 or 50 of the workers were on the waterfront, and these scattered in groups discussing the situation. No formally-called meeting lias been held to consider the question of forming a new union, but such a step is in the air, and may come into the area of solid practico at any moment. Coal merchants of tho city and suburbs intimate that on and after Monday they will bo obliged to increase the retail price of coal. Yesterday a considerable number of men found themselves out of work, while others retain their positions, with the possibility of suspension hanging over their heads. ■ Incident on the Dredge. Yesterday, the men employed in fitting out dredge 404 for sea knocked off work. Orders wero at once given by the Harbour Board to replace the vacancies from their own staff at Port Chalmers, and the permanent staff were mot and interviewed by the pickets, but they stood firm, and work was continued without further difficulty. The Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company cannot ship any butter or cheese to England, and their stores are getting full with stock intended for shipment. Once their stores are full, it will be impossible for the company to continue manufacturing. TIIIS means a loss not only to them, but to the farmers, who will not be required to send any more milk or cream to tho company's factory. It is feared that many of the coal drivers will he out of work in a few days, for the stocks in the yards aro fast vanishing, and wh there is no more coal there will be no more driving. . Movements of Shipping. The Ulimaroa left Lyttelton on Friday night for Bluff direct, but on her way down tho coast she received wireless instructions to call at Port Chalmers, and pick up at least part of the crew of the Victoria. The latter vessel is on the Dunedin-Auckland, via East Coast ports, running, is to be laid up at Port Chalmers this trip on account of the strike. Her crew came with the vessel irom the other side, and the Ulimaroa is to take them home—an indication that, from the shipowner's point of view, the strike is not likely to terminate soon. , Pickets Repulse Fruit merchants. On board the Ulimaroa are 39 cases of fruit for Dunedin. As fruit had not been handled at Lyttelton it was not likely to be handled at Port Chalmers, so two 1 men from the consignees were down at the vessel to land the fruit themselves. A railway truck was shunted down alongside the vessel, and the fruitmen went on board to get the fruit and deposit it in the waiting truck. Each man, with cases of fruit on his shoulder, walked to the gangway. When the first man down the gangway placed his case of fruit on the wharf, preparatory to _ putting it into the truck, a striker quietly picked it up and going up the gangway placed it on the vessel's deck. The striker, in passing, said something to the second man, who was coming down the gangway with a. case of fruit on his shoulder. He stopped, turned back, and placed his case of fruit alongside the case that had been replaced on the vessel's deck. The striker withdrew at once, as no person was allowed on board. The two men in charge of the cases of fruit conferred for a moment, and then they picked them up and carried them back again to where the rest of the consignment was stored. It was said that there were 400 cases of Lyttelton fruit aboard. About a dozen strikers were present on the wharf when the incident took place, but they took no part, with the exception of three young fellows, who pushed the railway truck a few yards tfway from the gangway. The Kaitangata Miners. ... • At Kaitangata there is a determined opinion expressed that the men will not "down'tools." The mines are working well, and inquiries made elicited the fact that there is a strong feeling amongst a section of the miners against the strike. The men were beginning to realise that it would be folly to go as far as that, especially if they were liable to a penalty. Their fullest sympathy went out to the hungry, and they maintained that practical and sensible sympathy could be given by striking levies to assist them. Still another opinion implied that the Kaitangata miners were just as susceptible to strike fever as other miners, and if there was a general "down tools" Kaitangata would also enter the lists. Employees Receive Notice. The New Zealand Express Company, theprincipal cordial factory, and a number of other firms arc giving 4 heir hands a week's notice that their services will be dispensed with in consequence of the strike. This is merely intended as a precautionary measure. HIKUIIANGI MINERS. A STRIKE POSSIBLE. [by telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wiiangarei, Saturday. There were persistent rumours to-day that the Hikurangi coal miners intended to cease work thin afternoon, 'but it appears that work will be resumed as usual on Monday, pending further developments. A meeting of the men was held last night, but nothing has been divulged, although it is stated that a majority of the miners present were in favour of striking if called upon to do so by the Federation of Labour. One of the leading officials of the union stated that the union was registered under tho Arbitration Act, but the men were not working under any award. If the union is invited to /Come out, a ballot will be taken. ' One of the mine managers stated that he would not be surprised if the miners went out on strike by Monday a'ternoon. It appears that one of the mines is supplying 600 tons of coal a week to the New Zealand Portland Cement Company's works at Limestone Island, but apart from any local strike, if the trade with Auckland is dislocated it must mean a shortening' of hands. The fain ers and dairymen ol the district are already feeling the iffects of this strike acutely, as the cool storage space at the different factories is unable to cope with more than a few days' output of butter. A good deal of comment has been made on the fact that at Hikurangi, where some 200 miners are employed, the one constable stationed there has been removed to Auckland. OPPOSED TO THE STRIKE. ' TDIARU WATERSIDERS. [BY TELEpRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Timaru, Saturday. Between 80 and 90 watersiders were at work to-day on the Wanaka, Waitemata, and Breeze. Before turning to at eight o'clock the men assembling for engagement were addressed by some of the few federationists left here, and urged not to go to work. They took no notice of the appeal. One or two showed resentment at this interference, and the general feeling was decidedly ad#rse to a strike. A seaman of one boat last night was met by a shoreman and asked, " Can't you do something to help our cause?" When asked how. the shoreman said, "You could drop. a match or .two among the cargo," or something to that effect. The reply' ,to ritllia was a: sound tongue I lashing. : \i» •