WATERSIDERS' PICNIC.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17983, 29 January 1924, Page 6

WATERSIDERS' PICNIC.

SHIPPING HELD UP.

For the second time within a week the shipping of the-Port of Lyttelton was held up yesterday owing to the watersiders' annual picnic.. The picnic was originally arranged for Wednesday last, that being the day, th© fourth Wednesday in January, provided for in the 1 award. However, Wednesday was a wet day and the picnio was postponed. No other day is provided in the 'award in. the ©vent of the fourth Wednesday in January being wet, but a general meeting of tb© Waterside H orkers' Union was held, and it was decided to hold the picnic yesterday. No labour was offering when the call was made yesterday morning, suid watersidei-s engaged on Saturday morning for work on the Nowshera, and ordered back tor *8 o'clock yesterday morning did not appear. This last is alleged to have constituted a breach of the award.

In all two overseas- steamers, ail intercolonial cargo steamer' and four coastal steamers were held up. The position was rather serious for the small steamer Cvgnct, which has 1300 c-a|;ea of jfr.uit from Nejson in her holds. With tli© intense, heat of the List two days tho delay is likely to prove disastrous to the consignment, some of which is intended for Invercargill.

Ill© seamen were also Affected by tho picnic. According to the seamen's award the men shall be granted a day's holiday a year or the day of the watersiders picnic, at whichever port they liappen to be in. Tho mon in most of the local steamers were granted this holiday yesterday, but in on© case the men were asked to do a little neoessary work, but refused.