Sliema grew with the ferries – Part 2

The barklori protested against the threat to their livelihood posed by the new ferries of The Sliema Valletta Ferry Service Company set up by Julius (Giulio) Goldseller; they demonstrated in front of the Governor’s Palace in Valletta on May 25, 1882, and complained directly to Sir Arthur Borton on June 16 while he was visiting the new police station at Sliema. The Governor promised to study their concerns but there the matter rested.

The barklori could still serve the route and the rest of the harbour because the ferries were only allowed to run between the two landing places. The men threatened to go on strike but were dissuaded by Melitone Caruana, the Superintendent of Police. The strike was nevertheless held on the afternoon of August 6. The government retaliated by suspending the men’s licences for a month but they were reprieved on August 11 after presenting a petition with a promise to return to work. Shelters for them were erected at the landing places in 1884. The men also agreed to charge the standard fares and to pool resources according to an agreement reached earlier on June 7; judging from passengers’ and servicemen’s perennial complaints, the official tariff was...