NO WORD TO WATERSIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 282, 27 November 1919, Page 5

NO WORD TO WATERSIDERS.

I — I FLORA SAILS SHORT. j \ BIG PARCEL LEFT BEHIND. i CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON. ISSUES HANG ON OUTCOME. I Things are as they were in connection with the embargo placed on local cased I and barrelled meat by the watersiders. j The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. T. Harle Giles) attempted to settle the matter so far as consignments for the Talune were concerned, but no headway was made. Early this morning he met at bis office Mr. W. E. Sill (secretary) and Mr. Wilson (an executive member* of the Butchers' Union, and tried to put into effect the sDirit of a telegram from the Secrctarv of Labour in Wellington, as follows: "Tic butchers' dispute, Minister requests that you should use every endeavour to get waterside workers to load meat on Island steamers." This communication was in response to.the tele-rani forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (Mr. M. M. McCallum), urging tbe Government (inter alia) to use their influence with the watersiders to withdraw the embargo, as Island trade should be fostered, not alienated, from New Zealand, apart altogether from the injustice of penalising the Islands because of a local dispute. The Flora sailed for the Eastern Pacific, however, shortly after receipt of the telegram last evening, minus some 600 cases and 100 kegs of meat. AWAITING CONFERENCE ISSUES. Attention accordingly settled on the Talune and in this direction the Commissioner used his best efforts this morninr, the representatives of the Union leaving his oflice with the understanding that they would convene a meeting of their executive to consider the representations made. This was duly held and at a time appointed a ring came over the telephone to the Commissioner in his office. The message was that the men who had met in their meeting house up in Hobson Street had decided that they were not prepared to make any move in the matter until after the decision of the conference, proceedings in connection with which are to be resumed at 2 this afternoon, is known. The union evidently prefers not to. act until such time as they aTe acquainted with the decision arrived at by the master butchers at their meeting last evening, the result of which is to be announced at the conference, when the representatives of the two parties most directly concerned in the dispute will again face eath other in further consideration of the whole question. Needless to say. the Commissioner will again exert every effort to bring about a settlement, and will draw the best of the big fund of knowledge of industrial disputes which he possesses. In the meantime, the local meat remains held up by the men of the waterside, sta.iding in hig heaps, nicely arranged with the brands of tbe respective companies affected showing out boldly against its bulky proportions. A PERSONAL APPEAL. An appeal to the waterside worker? for consideration in a demand towards having the embargo on the meat lifted was made personally by Mr. M. M. McCallum this morning, and the men gave a promise that they would respect the wishes of tbe Butchers' Union in the matter. This was one of the stepping stones in th e move, in which the Conciliation Commissioner figured, and which failed this morning. TWO SHOPS FOR A.M.C. The colours of the A.M.C. are Hying two shops having been opened since yes terday. These are situated in Dominion Road and Grange Road, and in Welling ton Street. Two of the strikers havt also returned to work. With Messrs Hellabys, Ltd., the position remains un altered.