WATERSIDE STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 6

WATERSIDE STRIKE.

| COASTAL STEAMERS HELD UP OBJECTION TO FREE LABOUR. HUNDREDS OF MEN IDLE. -(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Cajrgo operations were practically suspended in the port to-day. At a quarter to eight o'clock a call was made for men to work the steamers John, Putiki and Breeze, which were loaded at Wanganui by free labour. None of the watersiders came forward, and as a result, no further labour was engaged with the exception of ten men for the ferry steamer Maori. ' The only other vessels working are the Pateena and the coastal steamer Kaitba, which were working yesterday, and only one sling was worked on each vessel. They are unloading fruit only. A handful of men was engaged altogether, and hundreds were idle about the "wharves. I

FREE LABOUR AT NAPIER.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER. Thursday. The Home liner in the bay was worked by free labourers to-day, and the vessel was declared black by the Waterside Workers' Union. It is stated that the Victoria will also be put on the "black list," f because men engaged on union terms were then refused .permission to start, being paid for one hour.

DELAY AT NELSON.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NELSON, Thursday. When the anchor steamer Kaitoa arrived from Motueka to-day no waterside workers appeared to work the cargo. The company's permanent staff performed the work until four o'clock, when the wharf-labourers put in an appearance, and were engaged. The Kaitoa cleared for Wellington half-an-hour late. A similar trouble occurred yesterday in connection with the Union Company's Mapourika. The wharf labourers claim that labour should be engaged at specified hours.