WORKERS INTIMIDATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15500, 6 January 1914, Page 8

WORKERS INTIMIDATED.

TACTICS OF EX-STRIKERS. POSITION IN WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. The executive of the Arbitration Union of Wharf Labourers is taking steps to put down intimidation on the wharves and ships on the part of ex-strikers. Several complaints of objectionable tactics have been made, but the difficulty has been to get sufficient evidence to lay the blame on the right shoulders. Speaking to a reporter on the matter to-day Mr. J. L. Radcliffe, vice-president of the union, said that an attempt was being made to check all violence. One arbitrationist had been struck on the head with a lump of coal which had fallen off a bucket, and the man had been knocked unconscious. Inquiries were being made into this matter, In one case a man had been heard to use intimidating language, and he had been dismissed from work straight away. "We intend to deal with these matters with a very firm hand," said Mr. Radcliffe, " and on Thursday afternoon we meet the shipowners to discuss what action shall be taken." Mr. Radcliffe denied that any discrimination was being made in the signing on of the men. All applicants who were supposed to be of good character were allowed to join, but the latecomers clearly understood that they did not have much prospect of getting regular work in view of the large mem. bership of the union. Mr. Radcliffe added that rule 4, that written applications must be accompanied by entrance fees, was now being strictly enforced. In cases where it was proved that a man had no money, however, lie was granted a permit to work for seven days, and at the end of that time he had to pay the entrance fee. Members of the executive were visiting all the ships in port to see that the men at work were bona fide members of the union or had their permit cards. About 50 ex-strikers enrolled this morning.

SCENES IN ENGAGING BOOM. ROWDINESS AND HECKLING. [bt telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] Wellington', Monday. The reopening of the "donkey room" in X shed as a place for engaging wharf labour was marked by a good deal of rowdyism this morning. Before eight o'clock a large crowd of men, some hundreds of them

ex-strikers, assembled in the room and when the men were being selected there was a good deal of heckling and rowdiness. Afterwards, as too much labour was available, a large number of the hands were left, the majority of them being men who had come back to work when the strike was calkd off. They made it decidedly uncomfortable for the members of the Waterside Workers' Union wbo had resumed during the strike and for the new hands. There was considerable uproar and attempts at speech-making were made. One man who was insulted struck an opponent and received a somewhat severe handling, his main injury being a cut over the eye. He reported the matter to the wharf officials but said he could not identify his opponent and consequently no action could be taken in the matter. In another instance two men complained that ex-strikers had prevented them from going up the stairs into the waiting-room. The men were warned by one of the chief wharfingers that should such unseemly conduct occur 'again the shed would be closed and they would have to wait outside on the quay. This would mean that wharf hands would be engaged on the wharves as they were during the currency of the strike.

Owing to more serious developments in the afternoon, Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Harbour Board, consulted the police authorities regarding the maintenance of order on the wharves, and gave orders that the donkey-room should be closed untii further notice.

DEFENCE COMMITTEE'S EXPENSES. LEVY ON BUTTERFAT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. The Bush dairying companies at a meeting held in Pahiatnyon Saturday decided to make a levy up to id in the poAid on October's butterfat, as a contribution to the expenses of th~ Wellington Citizens' Defence Committee during the strike." DTJNEDIN ABBITKATIONISTS. UNION 330 STRONG. [BT TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION.] Duneddj, Monday. At the first annual meeting of the new Waterside Workers' Union (arbitration) toii'<jht it was reported that the .membership was 285. Subsequently 45 implications for membership were received from memb«.,ii of the old union, and all the men, were admitted, bringing the strength up to

TEE OPAWA'S SEAMEN.

AMOUNT OP BAIL REDUCED. [BY TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION!.

Wellington, Monday. Application was made in the Magistrate's Court to-day to reduce the bail (£10) in the case of seamen from the steamer Opawa, who some six weeks ago were committed for trial on a charpe of refusing duty on the high seas. There are 14 men, and, except in the case of one, who is a prohibited immigrant, counsel asked that bail be reduced to £5. That would mean a total of £65, which, it was stated, the Se&ava'B Union would deposit. The application was granted.