WHARVES IDLE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18673, 23 April 1926, Page 8

WHARVES IDLE.

HOLDUP AT LYTTELTON. CARGO OVERCARRIED. The position in regard to the holdup of shipping at Lyttelton is now becoming more serious. Already several vessels have been diverted, while others which arrive to-day must remain idle until the trouble is settled. The Kurow, which arrived last evening from Auckland and Gisborne with general cargo and sheep, landed the sheep and sailed again for Dunedin, ovcrcarrying the general cargo. The Kamo is due to-day from Napier and Gisborne, with sheep and general cargo, tolie will return to Gisborne to load further sheep for Lyttelton, and will overcarry her general cargo. The Kartigi, wuich was duo to-mor-row from Timaru- to load for Nelson, New Plymouth, and Westport, is omitting Lyttelton and sailing direct from Timaru to Wellington. The Matakana, Canadian Miller, and Anglo-Columbian are due to-day, also a few small coastal craft, while the Waihemo, with San Erancisco cargo, and more coastal vessels are due to-mor-row. All must remain idle until the trouble is settled. The ferry steamers have been working ordinary cargo up till yesterday, but from this morning they will take only perishable goods, live stock, and passengers' motor-cars. An Unexpected Development. Both the shipping compauies and the watersiders wore surprised yesterday morning when a call for labour was made to work the Norwegian steamer Tugela, which arrived from Wellington with cargo from Durban and hardwood from Bunbury for discharge. The Tugela is undor charter, and the master of the vessel, Captain N. Olsen, is himself acting as the agent for the ship, Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Co. being the stevedores. The owners of tho Tugela are, of course, not members of the Watersiders' Employers' Federation, and Captain Olsen decided to work his vessel. A call for labour was therefore made- by one of the stevedores' foremen at 9.80 a.m. The men responded readily, and five gangs were engaged. The necessary railway labour was also secured. At 10.40 a further call was made, but only one man was required, and ho was easily secured among the hundred or two men offering. The Tugela is therefore working normally. The men are not receiving tho 1-Jd increase. No Labour for Preference Ships. As usual, calls were made yesterday for labour for tho two "preference" steamers, the Ooolana and tho Canopus, but there was no response. The Canopus is continuing discharging into hulks with the oue gang engaged on her arrival, and they should' complete by to-morrow, when it is expected that the ship will sail. _ . The general opinion in shipping circles is that the men, having held tho port up for a few days_ as a protest against not receiving tho lsd per hour increase, will resume, probably about Monday, without any explanation, and the trouble will he temporarily settled.