Page 82 - Tropic Magazine Issue 21

TROPIC • REGIONAL HISTORY

2

Wharf clashes

MARITIME STRIKES 1
A bombing, train derailment
and intimidation tactics ensued begin loading ships themselves.
“Although the farmers were stated to be
when Cairns wharfies walked coming to town with peaceful intent,
off the job. their true character was shown late this It was obviously a
morning when they cornered Mr Ackers,
Words: Renee Cluff deliberate attempt to
president of the Waterside Workers’
In 1925, members of the Waterside Union, and another, and badly assaulted derail the car
Workers’ Federation went on strike, them,” wrote the Labor Daily newspaper.
demanding a fairer roster system to “One farmer stated that if there was any
ensure equal distribution of wharf work. interference by the police they will follow
Despite the Industrial Court ruling the Ku Klux Klan line of notion and tar Around the same time, the home of
against their action, Cairns Port came to and feather the Watersiders’ leaders the South Johnstone Cooperative Mill
and run them out of town.” Police did Association’s boss, who’d been a vocal
intervene and many farmers were led opponent of the strikers, was bombed.
away but their actions paid off, with “Portions of the bomb tore through the
wharfies returning to work. floor and in one place there was a
One farmer stated A couple of years later, despite the award gaping hole of four feet in diameter,”

that if there was any being changed to include ‘equalisation’ the Cairns Post wrote. “Iron missiles were
measures, the dispute flared again with
interference by the police Watersiders this time stopping work also found scattered about the house.
A sewing machine, which was standing
they will follow the Ku because they were earning less than near where the explosion occurred, was
their counterpart crews on the ships.
Klux Klan line of notion 500 farmers descended on Cairns for a blown to pieces.”
In an unexpected twist, it was a cane
and tar and feather the second time and were soon working the farmer who was charged over the
wharves. Again, the Industrial Magistrate
Watersiders’ leaders and declared the strike illegal. bombing. Vincenzo Bianchi went to
trial, where he was found not guilty and
run them out of town The situation came to a head in October released. By then, the port of Cairns was
1928 when 17 crew members of the sugar operating normally again. No-one else
ship Fiona were arrested and charged was ever charged.
for entering the strike in support of the
Watersiders, by refusing to set sail. The 1. Farmers taken away by police,
a standstill. It was the height of the sugar men were taken to Ingham by train, circa November 1925
2. Farmers travelled to Cairns to
crushing season and farmers, furious which derailed. “A fish-plate had been try to end the strike
that they couldn’t export, attempted removed, the lines shifted and a plate The Cairns Historical Society has over 30,000
to intervene. 700 of them marched placed between the joints of the rails,” digital images from Far North Queensland.
into Cairns and tried to forcibly take wrote the Cairns Post. “It was obviously You can view them at the Society’s Research
Centre located within the Cairns Museum in the
possession of the wharf so they could a deliberate attempt to derail the car.” School of Arts building.

82 • Tropic • Issue 21