WATERSIDE WORKERS’ STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 32

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ STRIKE.

SHIPPING HELD UP

SOME DISORDERLY SCENES.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

■ WELLINGTON, October 22. B Following the notice given yesterday, the B^terside workers instead of starting work Bit eight this morning, held a meeting ’ o Biscuss the position of the shipwrights alBeady on strike. This meant that the Bvork could not go in several large overRea steamers waiting to discharge. H. The waterside workers’ meeting, which Bfended to place the dispute unreservedly Ba ; the hands of the Federation of Labour, Kras over shortly after 9. o’clock, and the Baep decided to turn to at 10, when they to the ships in which they had been Rrorking. They found, however; their ■daces filled by others. There was a reBhuffling of jobs, and although the union Rien were taken on by the ships, it was ■tot necessarily the same men who had ■teen working there yesterday. ■ In the afternoon 1400 to 1500 men at■ended a meeting, presided over by Mr ■Curtice, and carried the following motion Rnanimously: “That no work shall be accepted until such time as all men are reRasta ted.” R The decision of the employers to select Rny men they chos% (union men) instead Rf allowing men who had been working on Rny particular ship to resume work on that ■hip, greatly upset the men. Some of Khern, ho-wever, turned to on the vessels lon which they were not working yestev. Ray. This cause trouble among themselves, Rnding in blows on the Wairuna. Finally, ■the W airuna men knocked off. A large Rrowd of men made their way to the Rarious vessels, and eventually all work* Rt discharging cargo was suspended. I|f' MEETINGS OF WATERSIDE I WORKERS. R NO WORK UNTIL MEN ARE I REINSTATED. Ip/ , WELLINGTON, October 22. p Fully IOOp men attended the morning p‘stop*work” meeting. Mr Fred Curtice, ■president of the „ Waterside Workers’ ■Union, presiding. The business was : 'To ■consider the shipwrights’ grievances and ■claims, also travelling time for slip work■ers at Evans Bay, and to take such action ps may be deemed necessary.” P Mr Langdon, secretary of the Sluppmgbt’s Branch of the Waterside Wor- ■ kers’ Union, said that the beginning of ■the trouble was that the men were stopped ■for their time for travelling to and from ■the patent slip—a concession to men that ■had been in • existence for the past 40 ■ years. The Union Company had definitely I declined to continue the practice of paying ■ for travelling time. Further, the com- ■ pany declined to recognise the shipwrights las a .union. 3 Then finding that no redress ■ could be obtained in the usual way, that I union decided to join the larger organise Ition—the Waterside Workers’ Union. AlI though the agreement made 'with the ■'Waterside Workers Union was primarily ■ lor them, the shipwrights recognised that lit was acceptable to them. It was thou ■ adopted, subject to the shipwrights’ trade ■ conditions. The agreement the shipI, Wrights sought to obtain was noth! ig ■ new, but was already in existence on th° l-jvater front. Mr Kennedy, manager of I the Union Steam Ship Company, had abso I lately refused to recognise the shipwrights las a branch of the Waterside Workers’ I Union. He would, he had said, receive I them as shipwrigths but not as connected ■ with the Waterside Workers’ Union. The I 'shipwrights had two conferences with tin. I Union Company, but the sole result was lit concession of Id an hour increased I wages, which the shipwrights held was :nI sufficient. The counter agreement sent iu Iby the employers are entirely unacceptI able to the shipwrights, and they bad no ■alternative in the matter but to come oil'I Mr Hickey explained that he w*as pre I sent at the invitation of some of the I officials of the union. He suggested that I the whole matter should be handed over lio the Federation of Labour. He believed I if that were done an agreement to meet I the case of the shipwrights could be arI rived at. This suggestion was vigorously I applauded. A member of the Waterside I Workers’ Union pointed out that the employers had broken their agreement by hot recognising the deputation as from the Waterside Workers’ Union. It was subsequently resolved to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the ■ federation. A suggestion was made that the meeting take direct action and pledge itself to reduce the output of labour by EG per cent. The president declined to accept this, and he would not put it to ythe meeting, pointing out that it was contrary to the rules governing strikes. ANOTHER MEETING. |y A meeting of some 1400 or 1500 members of the Waterside Workers’ Union was keld this afternoon to discuss the situation.’ It was decided by a large majority of those present that the press be adanitted. . Mr Curtice, president of the ;£oion, presided. ■Kfot’ : ...

The chairman explained that the preys had been allowed into the meeting in order that it might send out to the world that the waterside workers had nothing to hide. That morning a “stop” meeting had been called by a resolution passed at the meeting yesterday. They had found that the position was that after certain men had been put on certain jobs the foreman had come along and put on new men, and the men who had been previously put on those jobs were shifted t> other work. The executive had decided that a deputation should wait on Mr Kennedy, and he had told the deputation that the local committee had nothing to do with the dispute. There was no doubt that 1 e was right, for the dispute had gone past the local committee and was in the hands of the shipping companies. They asksd him if he would reinstate the men who had been shifted, and Mr Kennedy had replied that he could not say whether they would be reinstated. He told them that nothing could be done until the shipowners’ meeting at 3.30 o’clock that afternoon. What was the position ? He (the speaker) w r as going to tell those present that they were out on strike. responsible officer he said that when they cfid not go back to work they were out on strike, and they could not spell it anything else but a strike. By coming out that afternoon they had broken their agreement from A to Z.—(Cries : “ Good enough, too !”) What were they going to do?—(“Fight it out.’’) The speaker urged that when the foreman came into the room to engage labour he should-be treated with the utmost respect. —(Hear, hear.) If they did not want employment they need not roll up. If the majority wanted to take work they must abide by that decision.— (“The strike isn’t on.” “ The strike is oh.”) Mr Curtice further explained that Mr Kennedy had been informed that if the men were reinstated there would be no trouble. The motion, that no w T ork shall be accepted until such time as all the men are reinstated,” was put after discussion. A forest of hands was held-un in its favour, and the Chairman declared that it had been carried “without one dissenting voice.” j The men were then asked what the position of the men on board the boats was. Were they to “go on” or “go out?” Voices : “ Go out.’ After the meeting had been declared closed a section of the men attempted to re-open it, but were ruled out of order. The men then broke into little knots and discussed the situation. There were not many signs of excitement, the majority accepting the verdict of the meeting, went philosophically upstairs. In the waiting room vne domino tables were fully occupied. MEETING OF SHIPOWNERS. AGREEMENT WITH THE UNION TERMINATED. WELLINGTON, October 22. At a representative meeting of the shipowners —parties to the agreement with the Waterside Workers’ Union —this afternoon, the following resolution was adopted: “That this meeting of employers who, were parties to the agreement with the waterside workers, dated January 7, 1912, regard the refusal of the members of the union to commence work at the usual hou” this morning as a flagrant breach of clause 28 of the contract existing between the employers and the union, and that the meeting inform the union to that effect, and also that they regard the agreement as being terminated.” This resolution was conveyed to the ex ecutive of the union, which has since been discussing the situation, and though no information is given out as to the business of the meeting which is still (9 p.m.) in progress, it is supposed that arrangements for carrying on the strike are being attended to. SECTION NOT IN SYMPATHY. NEW UNION PROPOSED. WELLINGTON, October 23. Amidst a steady, incessant downpour of rain, which lasted practically all day, the waterfront, with a pretty large number of ships waiting loading or discharge, presented a dismal appearance to-day. From an early hour pickets have been posted about the wharves. Though it is said by many men that the strike should not have'been called, the majority are in accord with yesterday’s decision resulting from the ‘ stop-work ” meeting. Some bitterness was shown by sections of the strikers at a meeting of waterside workers this morning. The president, Mr Curtice, said the shipowners had turned the men down “ and they would h|ve to fight them.” A new arrival on the scene this morning was Mr Tom Barker, of Auckland, organiser of the Independent Workers of the World. He advocated I.W.W. methods, and pointed out how the waterside workers could annoy by quietly dropping cases overboard from slings and such like methods. Not that he would urge them to adopt this course—that was a matter for themselves. The French, railway strikers had adopted the methods of “sabotage”—sending trucks to the ivrong stations, failing to collect fares, and so forth. As a result the strike cost the Government 12 millions of money. The present was a class -warfare, and the only way the strike would be effective was for them to get transport men and other workers out. The bosses were organised as a class, and. the only way to fight them was for the workers to organise. It had been expected that a good deal of free labour would be offering for handling the cargo on the vessels in port, but such did not prove to be the case. Wet weather may have had something to do with the dearth of applicants. The few wjio did put in an appearaanco were quickly told off to various vessels on which cargo was being worked. At the patent slip this morning only a dozen labourers turned up, less than half the number there yesterday. They w - ere ordered to “ down tools ” and left the scene, but work on the

vessels on the cradles was carried on by others. Evidences are not wanting that the strikers are not unanimous amongst themselves about the wisdom of the strike. Indeed, there is a considerable section of the men which is frankly opposed to the strike, and already mention is being made of the possibility of a new union being formed. FREE LABOUR EMPLOYED. WELLINGTON, October 23. Work is proceeding to-night on the Rimutaka discharging Home cargo. The Harbour Board’s permanent hands are working in the sheds and free labour in the holds. The police keep the wharf clear, and all gangways are hauled' up, so that the big liner’s side cannot be scaled. A big crowd of strikers at the head of the wharf has made one or two demonstrations, as it is not possible for anyone to get on to the wharf. Once they made a rush, and swept over the police, but presently they returned to their old position.

MEETING OF STRIKERS. ADDRESS BY MR FARLAND. WELLINGTON, October 24. A meeting of strikers was held early this morning. The attendance numbered seven or eight hundred, and Mr F. Curtice, president of the union, was in the chair. Mr G. Farland, secretary of the union, complimented the men on the way they had conducted themselves since the strike began. He said he had been misrepresented as saying that the strikers were engaged iiva bitter war. Sometimes violence was used in strikes, but it was questionable whether' violence was any good in an industrial war. He did not think it was advisable to use violence. A man who was a traitor to his class was the same as a traitor to his country. A man who went bade on his country and fled in the face of the »enemy wa% shot, and a man who went back on his class at this time would be contemptuously regarded by his fellowworkers. There were many ways of winning strikes, but the old starvation strike was gone and dead, and if the public of New Zealand thought they were going to be a party to such methods they were making the biggest mistake in the world. —(“Hear, hear.”) As long as the employers were prepared to meet them they were prepared to observe peace and decorum. From the outset the position could have been easily got over. The position had been forced upon the organisation against the wishes of the organisation. The employers had been anticipating a fight and had said “ For God’s sake let us have it.” STRIKERS RUSH THE SHIPS. SEVERAL MEN INJURED. WELLINGTON, October 24. Up to lunch time, at any rate, the strikers kept good order on the wharves. At dinner time to-day a tally clerk excited the anger of the crowd outside the wharf gates by working at cargo. When he knocked off for dinner a rush was made for the gates, and the crowd surged past the keepers and chased the tally clerk. He ran for shelter into the F shed, but before tlie shed could be closed the crowd swept in and demanded the removal of the itian from the wharves-. The wharfinger (Captain Munro) was present, together with the police, but he would listen to nothing until the crowd left the wharf. This it did, and the tally clerk, who was driven into a corner, was got awnv off the wharf. The union officials openly exhort the men to keep order, and so "far they have been listened to, but occasionally individuals tike matters into their own hands. At 1 o’clock the crowd began to collect again. Taking advantage of the entry of a cart the crowd rushed through the gates, and the small force of police and harbour board officials being powerless against their numbers they at once had .a free hand. Their object was the coastal steamer Defender, where four men from the office of Messrs Bannatyne and Co, with Mr Kitching in charge, were loading the vessel. A scuffle ensued, and Mr Kitching received a blow, to which he retaliated.- The arrival of Mr Munro, chief wharfinger, and other officials put a stop to this, and the crowd surged into the shed, where a noisy scene followed. Some order was restored, and after speeches by a waterside delegate and by Mr Munro the union left the wharf on the condition that the four free workers also left. A guarantee was obtained from the unionists that the “free” men would be allowed .to go back <4o their offices unmolested, and at length they did so. As they made their way through the crowd there was some booing and hooting, but they x'eached their destination unharmed. Having satisfied themselves that the employees of Messrs Bannatyne and Co were not likely to resume work at the Defender the unionists then again assembled in front of the main gates. At the Queen’s wharf a cry soon went up to rush the Navua should any free labourers come ashore. Several waterside workers attempted to board the vessel, and some were successful in the rush through the opening at the bow. An employee was hit with a broken bottle, which inflicted a severe wound. He was taken away for medical attention. The mob jeered and hooted those working on board whilst the waterside workers sorted out the “free” men. When one of the unionists made an endeavour to come off the vessel again he was apparently roughly handled by an officer, and at this the strikers became infuriated and a riot seemed likely. In the meantime the gangway was lowered amidst loud hooting. A strike leader was, after persisting for a while, given a hearing, and then appealed to the men to allow Mr Munro to heard. The gangway was again raised, and the chief wharfinger assured the men that if they •syould go off the wharf the “free” labourers on board the ship would come ashore.

During the rush on the boat one worker, evidently well known to the strikers, was asked by several to “put on his coat,” but the earnest appeals had no effect with the exception that he threatened lo seriously hurt one of the leaders of the strikers. The crowd next visited the Queen of the South, where after some disorder it was announced that the free labourers would be knocked off. In the meanwhile the crowd outside, some of whom were "wild with excitement, began to stop laden carts and lorries. One prominent striker mounted a lorry, and was preparing to urge strong measures to induce the drivers to come out when he was pulled down by his more prudent comrades. Four free labourers working on the Dorset were pelted with stones by the strikers, but kept on with their operations in spite of a shower of missiles. Later in the day, however, they ceased work, and it is assumed that they were persuaded to do so by the pickets. At 3.15 p.m. the strikers made a rush at the double gates between M shed and the-Harbour Board’s building. Bursting open the gates they got a little way on to the wharves, but were then driven back by a force of 10 policemen. Another section of the crowd made a rush at the gate further south, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to burst it open in order to get at the free labourers on the Taviuni. CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES. RESOLUTION BY THE EMPLOYERS WELLINGTON, October 24. A conference between representatives of the parties lasted for some hours, and this evening it was announced that proposals for a settlement of the trouble had been made by the employers. These are, briefly, that work should be resumed on the old conditions as to pay, etc., the companies ■promising no victimisation, but they decline to recognise the former agreement, which has been broken by the men, and, therefore, is null and void. This proposal will be submitted to a vote of the men tomorrow morning. In the meantime it is understood that no work will be done on the ships, as, although free labour is offering plentifully enough, police protection is not available, and in view of several men being roughly handled to-day, the employers do not care to put free men to such risks. , .During the afternoon Mr W. T. Young, president of the Federation of Labour, Mr P. H. Hickey, secretary, and Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., waited upon the shipowners in conference, and suggested, on their own initiative, as they would have to lay the matter before the union, that the agreement be earned on as usual, and they were prepared, speaking as individhals, to waive the reinstatement question, and work was to go on as if nothing had happened. The employers heard all that the repre rentatives of the union had to say, and they then retired. The employers then discussed the situation, and the following resolution was passed ;—“That we adhere to the terms of the resolution conveyed to the Waterside Workers’ Union on the 22nd inst., when the late agreement was terminated. We are prepared to resume work with an assurance that the existing rale of pay shall continue. In the event of any dispute arising as to the conditions of employment, representatives of the employers are prepared to confer with representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Union with a view to a settlement of such.” Following this came the announcement of the terms on which work might be resumed. BIG FIGHT IN PROSPECT. WELLINGTON, October 25. The Waterside Workers’ Union met this morning. After nearly two hours’ deliberation it was unanimously decided not to resume work on the conditions laid down by the employers. The ships will consequently remain tied up. No work is going on. PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PRO- - PEBTY. WELLINGTON, October 25.. The employers decided to-day that in view of the repeated breaches of agreement made by the waterside workers they could not see their way to resume work under the late agreement, but they are agreeable, if the men resume work and form a fresh organisation, to enter into an agreement for a term on the basis of the wages now being paid, without any material alterations of the agreement under which the men have been working; the agreement to be registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in order to ensure a definite guarantee that the terms of the agreement will be carried out faithfully. It was also resolved that urgent representations be made to the Government of the necessity for making adequate provision for the protection of life and property on and around the wharves. STREET DISTURBANCES. WELLINGTON, October 26. At an early hour on Saturday afternoon a disturbance occurred among a crowd of strikers in the Post Office square, when a free worker was bailed up. The man boldly asserted that he had “ scabbed,” and that he did not believe in strikes. This was the signal for a tumult, which was quietened by the leaders, and the man‘was allowed to proceed on his way. At the same time, however, five or six men were told off to follow the strike-breaker, while the rest of the crowd was kept back. The man proceeded along Jervois quay and turned into Hunter street, where the strikers caught up on him and attacked him. He defended himself as well as he could, and by confining his attentions to the leader eventually beat them off, not without some damage to himself. The whole crowd now caught up and followed another man-p jeering and jostling him on the Bank of New Zealand crossing. A civilian had the temerity to pat the free labourer on the back, whereupon the

former was set upon and pummelled and his hat knocked off and kicked along the ground. Meanwhile the first man had boarded a car bound south, and the mob, upon discovering this, gave chase and' caught up to the car at the Evening Post office, but was unsuccessful in its attempts to drag the man out, and the car carried the man off. accompanied by ■* a number of strikers. A fireman employed on a ship at Jervois quay was held up by strikers, and questioned as to what he was doing and intended to do with regard to work on board. They began handling him, but, being a powerful man, and able to use his hands, he bowled over several of his noisier interlocutors, and, having cleared a ring for himself, walked th rough the crowd quietly on board ship. A couple of incidents arose while addresses were in progress in the Post Office square yesterday afternoon. A carrier pulled up his horse and ejaculated an expression in opposition to the strike. Immediately one of the strikers seized his horse and led the animal and the conveyance out of earshot. In the other instance a striker took exception to a remark made by another striker, and he harried him out of the crowd, pushing the interjector so energetically that he fell. There was no attempt at retaliation, the victim picking himself out of the dust and contenting himself with the emphatic statement that “Force ain’t argument.” During Friday night some person interfered with a shipment of muriatic acid w’hich was lying on the right tee of the Queen’s wharf. The liquid was in stone jars, and the stoppers were forced loose. The result was that a large quantity of the acid ran out on to the wharf and quickly blackened everything with which it came into contact. PROCESSION TO BASIN RESERVE. GATES BROKEN OPEN. WELLINGTON, October 26. A large crowd of strikers held a meeting in the Post Office square this afternoon, when addresses were given by the leaders. Subsequently, headed by the Waterside Workers,’ Band, and accompanied by a large crowd of the public, the strikers .marched in procession to the Basin Reserve, application for the use of which had been refused by the Mayor. On arrival, the big gates were found to be locked. A few straggled in through the small gates, others scaled the fence, and then the big gates were broken, open and the crowd surged in on to the Basin, where the meeting was proceeded with. Once in, it is reported, the men behaved quietly. CONCENTRATION OF POLICE. WELLINGTON, October 26. The concentration of police in Wellington is now in progress. Men are arriving from the country districts. Twenty policemen arrived by the Wahirie this morning from Christchurch, under Sergeant Bird, and by to-morrow’s trains from Wanganui and the Napier districts another score are due to reach the city. Twenty more are expected to arrive from Dunedin on Tuesday morning, and a further detachment will come from Invercargill and other southern towns as soon as they can begot here. No police are being drafted fi’om Auckland, as the authorities there have in mind the possibility of it being necessary to concentrate men on Huntly. Commissioner Cullen has issued an appeal to citizens who possess hacks to lend them to the department, as it is deemed essential to mount as many of the police as can be provided with horses. MEETING OF THE STRIKERS. DETERMINED TO STAND SOLIDLY. DYNAMITE DISCOVERED. SHORTAGE OF COAL ANTICIPATED. WELLINGTON, October 27. The Labour Day holiday had the effect of making all quiet on the wharves to-day. Although no cargo was worked, the wharves were crowded with strikers and the general public. Ferry steamers were busy running people to the Labour picnic at Day’s Bay. A meeting of strikers was held in the morning, and after lasting two hours, Mr F. Curtice, president of the Waterside

Workers’ Union, then told the waiting pressmen that the men had clearly indicated that they would stand solidly together, and were determined to go on with the strike. Further, Mr Curtice stated that a meeting of the Strike Committee was in progress, but there was nothing arising out of its deliberations which it was considered advisable to divulge to the press. A feature of' the strike is the compiehensive system of picketing that has been adopted by the strikers. All the water front is being patrolled and shipping closely watched. A number of the strikers are also engaged in what is known as “special duty,’’ and there is not a move in regard to shipping that is not promptly reported to the strike officers. The Harbour Board’s permanent men have been formed into a police or patrol body for protecting the board’s property. The men are on duty in eight-hour watches ail the time. There are 50 men in each watch. Two sticks of dynamite were found by the Harbour Board officers yesterday planted at the wall at the bonding warehouse. There was a fuse attached. A pile of wood shavings, and other combustible materials, were also found heaped up against one of the Harbour Boaid s sheds as if ready for firing. Much interest centred around the arrival of the Corinthic from London and Hobart with a large number of immigrants on board. The ship anchored in the stream for medical inspection, and in the meantime Captain Monro, the Harbour Board s wharfinger, conferred with representatues of the Strike Committee. It was agreed that the crew and passengers themselves should be allowed to handle their personal effects. It was recognised by the strike officials that most of the people who were seeking their fortunes in a strange land were mostly of the working class, with only verv limited capital at their command, and that to hold them up to any serious delay in their plans would mean inflicting a heavy hardship on them. After the port health officer had inspected the steamer, she berthed at Queen s wharf. Manv of the strikers and the public made their way to the end of the wharf to see the landing of the immigrants. A barrier was stretched across the wharf, a a is customary when a vessel reaches port or departs, and admission was strictly by ticket. The harl>our officials had agreed that half a dozen pickets be permitted aboard the ship to see that the handling of the luggage was confined only to the crew and the passengers, and there was nothing in the shape of any disorderliness. , _ A large number of applications haye been received for enrolment as special constables, and the names have been dulyregistered, but so far no enrolment has actually taken place. Amongst the applications received a large percentage is frqpi the country, and both men and horses are offered for dutv. The State Coal Department has only about 10 days’ supply of household coal in its Wellington depot, but it has about 2000 tons on board two of the steamers that are tied up in the harbour here. The whole of the Poherua’s cargo (about 1500 tons) is for the State Department, having been shipped at Greymouth from the Point Elizabeth mine, and there is also 500 ton? from the Seddonville mine on board the Komata. the balance (1000 tons) being for the Westport Coal Company. The State Department also has 1000 tons of steam coal on its hulk in Wellington Harbour. The Blackball Coal Company’s collier Ngahere is anchored off Kaiwarra with a full cargo of coal, which the company has made no attempt to discharge. PRIME MINISTER’S ATTITUDE. REPORTED OFFER TO MEDIATE. MR MASSEY EXPLAINS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 26. Rumours have been current to the effect that the Prime Minister had either been asked or had offered to mediate in the dispute. Mr Massey slated to-dav the rumours were true only to the extent that he had written to the Waterside Workers’ Union and the Shipowner's’ Federation, making the following offer: “1 shall be very glad to take part in any conference which may be arranged with the object of drawing up a new agreement as between the shipowners on the one side and the waterside workers on the other.” To this he had received only verbal replies by telephone acknowledging the letter in the meantime. In reply to a general inquiry as to what the intentions of the Government were m regard to the strike, Mr Massey said : “So far as I am concerned I decline to go into details. It is the duty of the Government to maintain law and order, and we will do it so far as we possibly can.” Mr Massey stated also that be had received numerous requests to supply adequate protection of life and property on the wharves. AUCKLAND WATERSIDE WORKERS. SYMPATHETIC STRIKE PROPOSED. AUCKLAND, October 27. The waterside workers, at a meeting hold to discuss the Wellington strike, carried a motion in favour of holding a meeting of the executive in Wellington forthwith, Mr Canham (president of the Auckland union, to proceed there and urge that all the transport workers of the dominion be called out in sympathy. The motion was carried in preference to an amendment that the Auckland waterside workers come out at midnight. Several speakers urged that a general strike be timed to cripple the Auckland Exhibition. A Vigilance Committee of 30 members was appointed to make arrangements for organising in Auckland in the event of a general strike being called.

STATEMENT BY THE HON MR HERDMAN. (From Ocr Own correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 27. The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) made the following statement tonight regarding the strike; —“The public can rest assured that everything is being done by the Government to maintain law and order and to ensure that proper protection is afforded and their property. At present, however, beyond stating that the Government is taking action with those ends in view it is impossible for me to make any detailed statement.” PRIME MINISTER’S ASSURANCE. WELLINGTON, October 27. In reply to Mr Russell, the Prime Minister stated that the Government was taking action to ease the unfortunate position that liad arisen in labour circles in Wellington, but that it was impossible for him to go into details at present. DISTURBANCE ON THE RIMUTAKA. The Dominion lias this reference to the Rimutaka ine.dcnt: —“ Their conduct in connection with the onslaught on the steamer Rimutaka was that of men who would stop at nothing. They rushed the steamer, knocked down and maltreated the officers who .attempted to bar their access to it. and over ran the vessel, threatening and intimidating. More reckless and brutal be haviour it would bo difficult to conceive. The second officer of the vessel, who stubbornly resisted the illegal trespass, was made a special mark for the violence of the strikers, and when he succumbed to the weight of numbers and fell to the deck he was brutally kicked as he lay there by some of the cowardly mob. In several other instances during the dav violence was used, and usually in a cowardly fashion; the many against the individual. There appeared to bo an clement in the crowd deliberately at work inciting their fellows to mischief, and the result of their efforts was probably the most lawless outbreak of mob violence this city has witnessed since the great maritime strike of 20 odd yoai'3*ago.