HOW IT WAS DONE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 November 1913, Page 5

HOW IT WAS DONE.

AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT

GREYTOWN CHEESE THE FIRST HANDLED. CREW JOINS IN*CHEERING. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Steady preparations for the commencement of free labour went on all the morning. The Harbour Board's staif kept the wharves clear of everyone who had no business there, and the closest scrutiny was carried out. At 11.$0 a.m. the special constables (500 on horseback and 100 on foot) left the barracks in Buck!o Street, and ma relied via Taranakt Street and Jervois Quay U> the wharves. There was no molestation and except for a- little l>ooing at the Panama Hotel and in the Post Office Square, the mounted men reached the vicinity of the railway whaii safely. . . , Here they were told,.off m squads, and elaborate precautions were taken to guard every possible entrance to the wharf. . City men sworn in as specials also went on guard round the railway yards, and if any person without a legitimate passport had attempted an entrance to the wharf lie would have been turned back. At 1 p.m. the Athenic was seen to be approaching the wharf, and she was the object of much interest. Here was the beginning of the fight. "THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME FUN."

In the streets, everyone was saymg j "There's going to be uome fun now." The more far-seeing wondered how this start of free labour would be looked upon by other unions. V* oukl the tramwa.ymen come out? i.lio seamen ? The drivers'? The silence and absence of the strikers where the specials were gathered on guard were taken by many to be otminous. ' . -- 'There was a big move, they declared, up Labour's/ collective sleevo. "Down tools" would bo tho order, and they waited. Many did not realise the big fight that was being lost or won. Neither .did many understand the significance of the day's doings, and how they imist effect (.very lining soul of the comnunity. It was an exciting ten ir-mutes when the big liner Athenic drew slowlv into the Glasgow wharf. A BLOODLESS BATTLEFIELD. H»re was a battlefield without blood being spilt, without all the horloi's of broken lyodics. Yet it a battle—a trial of strength—-winOb New Zealand has never «een before.

On the one side tho shipping companies and the owners of the industries" 'were drawing up their .forces. On the other, the idleness of. the wharves and sheds full of produce waiting for. shipment. Here were tho opposing forces—one real, cne abstract. But they were both arrayed in all their strength. A couple of hundred special constables, some of whom were to act as five labourers, idled about the whari, batons swinging from their wrists. "UNION MEN THIS WAY."

"All union men this way," shouted one of their number. This was tho first definite information of the formation of a new body. It was learned that tho specials had registered a union under the Arbitration Act. Surely this was business! It was the breaking of the strike —as far as it could be attempteel. " . Loud clioors rftng out "tho fiist piece of work by free labour. THE MEN AT WORK.

The Aahenie had been safolv moored l»y the Harbour Board's staff, and tho specials bad to go aboard. Four of them began to move one off the hydraulic cranes, along the raHs, so that tho -gangway could be got across. As they bent to the work, one had to realise that the forces were fighting, and work had begun. The specials clambered aboard, and were received with good-natured chaffing. Various important, officials', crwe and otherwise, promenaded the wharf.

and realised that the fight had begun. Rain came and stopped the preparations for a while, but tho respite gave tho free labourers and specials a chance for lunch. Cheese, raw onions, and bread and butter were handed round. The roughness of it no one seemed to mind. There was only one'thought, "We'll get our butter and olieese away, anyhow." , 1 At 2,30 p.m. the first work of loading was in sight. Captain Crossland, of the Athenic, called tho whole crew together and explained the position to tliem. Would they be willing to work with free labour? "Aye, aye, Sir!" and the thing was settled. The .hatchways wore taken off, revealing empty holds and bare, dark spaces. Rigging tho falls and tacklo took half an hour, and at .15 p.m. the winchmen were at their posts. Twelve trucks laden with cheeso froim factories in the Wellington province wero the first to be unloaded. Ten specials, with coats and hats off, and sleeves rolled.up, began to load the first sling. They wero under the direction of .permanent employees of the Shaw, Savill Company. The work went smoothly fro n the start. The first sling contained' eiglit crates of cheese -manufactured by '.n< Groytown factory. As it was lifted from the wharf, the leader of the free labourers called for three cheers, and these were lustily given, the crew of the liner joining in heartily. It was a critical moment. Down in the hold were half a dozen farmers' sons, also under the direction of permanent hands, and the first crates wero safely stowed away. Frdm this on, there was steady work done, and within an hour the first track had been emptied of its freight.