THE LOADING OF MEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10338, 27 February 1925, Page 6

THE LOADING OF MEAT

TROUBLE AT LYTTELTON. ATTITUDE OF WATERSIDERS. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A repetition of the refusal by the watersiders to accept employment foi the loading of frozen meat occurred at Lyttelton yesterday morning, when a call was made by the foreman of Kinsey and Co., Ltd., for one gang to load some 1500 carcases of frozen moat into the steamer Port Auckland for London. There was no response. Three other gangs were obtained to load wool and pelts" and tallow, but the call for meat loaders was not responded to. A further call was made at 11.20. but again there was no response, most of the worker.:' having obtained work loading general cargo. The moat arrived at Lyttelton from the meat works early yesterday morning, but when it became known that no” labour was offering the meat was returned to the freezing works. ' Last eve nine it was announced by the ageuts forthe Port Auckland that for the present the vessel is timed to leave Lvttelton on Monday for London. In tli ? case of the Port Auckland the watersiders have not made any demands for extra pay, though it is understood that had the company concerned offered the sixpence extra an hour 4 the men might have boon available. „ , , There was a shortage of Inhour yesterday by noon, and the Port Auckland could obtain only three gangs instead of the four required. There are about 500 watersiders on the union’s register at Lyttelton, but there does not appear to be that many offering themselves for employment. It is thought there must be a fair number working in the country. The lonic, with London cargo, and the Ulooloo, with New York cargo, are <jue this morning, hut no trouble is anticipated except that which may arise through a genuine shortage of labour. "These two vessels may be worked short-handed. .

A Transfer Refused. Further trouble occurred yesterday afternoon when the Union Company endeavoured to transfer some wateraiders from tho Wingatui and theWaikouaiti to the Corinna, in order that the Corinna might be despatched to Wellington last evening. The men concerned objected to tho transfer, and the vessel was idle all the afternoon and evening. She is expected to leave for Wellington to-day. No Overtime Worked. Later on the men working the Wingatui refused to work overtime. There being no suitable trucks available to receive the cargo from the Tairoa. no overtime was worked on that vessel last evening. What Will Happen The incidents at Lyttelton yesterday have created a good deal of uneasiness in shipping and freezing circles in Christchurch. The opinion is generally held that the watersiders have adopted irritation tactics, and that measures will have to be taken to bring these tactics to an end. It is pointed out that Canterbury is a serious loser by the hold-up of the meat cargoes. The space which should be filled here is being secured by North Island meat works. The Canterbury meat is being railed back to the works, and naturally the extra railing and handling are doing it no good. There is plenty of storage room in the province, but the freezers would sooner shin than store, when the cargo space is available. It is expected that another call for labour to load moat will lie made this morning, and that if there is no response there may be interesting developments. There is a strong feeling that “preference” in loading should be given to meat ships, as was done in Wellington last week in connection with the Rotorua.