Patrolling Auckland wharves, 1913 strike

Detail from image of a squad of special constables patrolling Quay Street and the entrance to the wharves, Auckland 1913 (click on thumbnail to see full image).

Special constables began assembling at a camp on the Auckland Domain around 6 November. In the early hours of 8 November mounted and foot specials, along with regular police, caught the strikers by surprise and took the wharves without a struggle. In response, at least 6000 Auckland workers in a wide range of occupations came out in a general strike. This petered out from 22 November, although Auckland watersiders, drivers, seamen and tramwaymen stayed on strike for some time after that date.

See more images of Auckland during the 1913 strike here (Flickr)