Victoria Square protest poster

Watersiders at Westport struck on 29 October, followed by their Greymouth counterparts on 3 November. Coal mines around the Coast also went on strike. During November and early December the wharfies and coal miners had virtual control of the Grey Valley and Buller, including Wesport and Greymouth. The authorities did not enrol specials, realising these would be outnumbered by strike supporters.