STRIKE AFTERMATH

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144297, 12 January 1914, Page 7

STRIKE AFTERMATH

A MELEE IN WELLINGTON. NO PILLAGING REPORTED. yt.4 PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. The most serious •melee since the strike, ended occurred between the King’s and Glasgow wharves a night or two ago. While a party of half a dozen coal workers, who were new hands, were returning from the Rotorua'alter their day's work was finished, they were set upon by a party of ex-strikers numbering fifteen or twenty. A general fracas, occurred, in which bottles, lumps of coal, and fists were used, and one ex-striker was .severely handled. His injuries are not serious, however. Inquiries show that practically no pillaging has been reported sinee the strike. Prior to the strike a good many complaints were made, hot it is very difficult to detect the offenders. A wharf official says that compared with the aftermath of the 1890 strike the present conditions arc comparatively quiet and peaceful. No very serious scrimmaging between old and new hands Had occurred, whereas after the former strike there were clashes for twelve months afterwards. As a result of a conference between employers and the executive of Hie Arbitration Union, labour foremen have had strict instructions to give preference to men who joined during the strike. Any foreman not conforming to this instruction is liable to dismissal. Although two or three hundred preference badges have been issued. very few were in evidence when labour was put on this morning. They are not really necessary, however, as the foremen know most of the old and now hands by sight. About three or four hundred oxstrikers hung about the wharves today, unable to get work.