IDLE FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 245, 15 October 1936, Page 8

IDLE FLEET.

DISPUTE SPREADS. THE FISHING HOLD-UP. UNIONISTS INVOLVED. SUPPLIES AVAILABLE. Various other trades unionists have become involved to some extent in tlic dispute between the fishermen and the wholesale dealers over the price of snapper. Further discussions between the fishermen, thp wholesalers and the letailers yesterday proved abortive, the fishermen reiterating their determination to stay ashore until they are guaran- . teed 2d a lb for snapper and refusing the merchants' offer of ljd a lb temporarily, until a Government commission as asked for by both sides is set up to go into the conditions of the fishing industry. In answer to the appeals from both sides, the Government has empowered Mr. K. E. Price, Conciliation Commissioner at Auckland, to preside at a conference of the parties, at which ,an officer of the Department of Industries and Commerce will represent the Government. This conference is to be held either late this afternoon or to-morrow morning. Engineers, painters, shipwrights and waterside workers may be involved in the dispute if it is not soon settled, and some difficulty has already arisen. Yesterday one of the three firms which last week refused to pay the 2d a lb that the fishermen demanded decided to put one of its boa.ts on the slipway for cleaning and painting. It was then discovered that its usually reliable engine would not function. The engineers at the repair shop to which the firm appealed for help would not respond, and an apprentice who did his best could not remedy the trouble. The

owner, therefore, decided to tow the boat to the slipway. Immediately some member of the lisliermen!s picket then on duty became very solicitous lest the law be broken, and informed the Harbour Board that a boat that did not have a towing license was undertaking a tow from the market landing to the slipway, contrary to the board's bylaws. Boats on Slipway. The shipwrights and painters next revealed their attitude in connection with the dispute. The launch intended for cleaning and painting was one of three which have been put on various slipways for cleaning and painting and minor repairs during their enforced stay in port, but the shipwrights and painters have refused to touch them. v A report that the waterside workers would refuse to load fish aboard the Awatea to-day or to-morrow for export to Australia lacks official confirmation. To avoid trouble with the police, the pickets have been instructed to take no direct iorceful action against any crewa who try to take their boats to sea, but five of the largest and fastest of the boats belonging to the owner-skippers, who are the backbone of the movement, have been provisioned and manned, and their engines are being kept "warmed up," ready to get tinder way at short notice, to follow any boat that goes out to fish. There are, of course, no policemen at sea, except for a couple of the Marine Department's fisheries patrol boats, and there f£re various manoeuvres by which one boat can prevent another from catching any fish, without breaking a single law on the Statute Book. Supplies Available. Meanwhile- it appears that, however long the dispute continues, Auckland will not be entirely without a sujfply of fish. Stocks held by the various wholesale dealers are expected, to last until the end of this week, having been replenished by the arrival of' several eeine net boats that were at sea when the fishermen decided ts» stay ashore, and one boat which left on Friday morning returned this morning with 40 baskets of fish. Another, the last of the seine netters still at sea, is due from the Bay of Plenty to-night. Some of the boats which arrived earlier in the week have not yet completed discharge of their catches, which are being taken out of them as required. The two steam trawlers owned in Auckland are still operating, the fishermen having decided not to ask the crews of those vessels to tie up their boats on the understanding that the owners will not supply the firms that are involved in the dispute. Some of the wholesale dealers have also stocks of frozen fish that have been accumulated for export to Sydney, but as the Auckland public has always refused to accept fish out of the freezers the holders state that they will not attempt to place these supplies on the local market unless the shortage becomes so acute that the public demands them. Fish Packers Affected. Although their wages still go on, about 10 men employed to clean or pack fish by the various wholesale merchants en?a;ied in the dispute are now idle, as they have no fish to work on. Under their agreement with the employers, their engagement can be terminated snly by a week's notice, which was *iven yesterday. They are hoping that the dispute is settled before their dismissal becomes a fact.