DEADLOCK.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 14

DEADLOCK.

SHIPPING HOLDUP. OVERSEAS VESSELS IDLE. RUMOURS OF FREE LABOUR. "With the arrival yesterday at Lytteltou of three overseas vessels, all of which are now idle owing to the deadlock on the waterfront, the position at Lyttelton has becomo most serious. It is certain that some action to end the position must, be taken next week, and it is oven rumoured that freo labour will bo called upon to handle tho cargoes now waiting for discharge and loading. Increaso Granted. Yesterday the watersiders engaged on tho Tugela, the steamer owned outside the Federation, the master of which engaged labour on Thursday, demanded that they bo paid an increaso of lid per hour. Rather than have his ship delayed. Captain Olsen acceded to tho demand. The small steamer Wootton arrived yesterday afternoon from Wellington. JHer owners are not members of the Federation, and labour was called for and engaged as usual. The ferry steamer Maori yesterday worked perishable cargo only. Fruit Gargo Diverted. The Waipahi, which was due at Lyttelton bo-day from Auckland direct with a cargo of Island fruxt ex the Tofua, has been diverted to Tiinaru. Most of her cargo will be disposed of there, but some may be railed to Christchurch. The Anglo-Columbian was one of the overseas steamers that arrived yesterday. She brought a part cargo of sulphur from the Gulf of Mexico. It was thought that she might call for labour, but her charterers, Messrs G. Scales and Co., are members of the Federation and the ship remained idle. The AVaihenio is due at Lyttelton this morning from Wellington with cargo from San Francisco. She will be placed on tho idle list along with the Anglo-Columbian, Matakana, Canadian Miller, and the "preference" ship, the Coolana. The Canopus, with one gang working, should complete discharge to-day when she will sail for Westport. Employers' Statement. Yesterday morning a meeting of the shipowners was held and the following statement was issued:"As there appears some misconception as to the actual cause of the trouble at Lyttelton, enquiries made from the chairman of the Christchurch Shipping Companies' Association show that the Arbitration Court made an award fixing rates of pay and certain conditions of work. Included in this was a provision for work to be carried on on Saturday afternoons. Despite the Arbitration Court's award the watersiders declined to work on Saturday afternoons, and after negotiations with the executives of the watersiders' and shipowners' association in Wellington it was agreed to offer the watersiders an extra an hour if they would carry out the award. "The unions throughout New Zear land agreed to this course, except the Lyttelton union, which apparently wanted the extra ljd an hour but would not agree to abide by the award. The employers, in asking that the award be carried out, especially as regards Saturday afternoon work, did so largely in the interests of shippers. In the past Canterbury shippers have been very seriously inoonvenienced, besides suffering loss, through the oessation of work at noon on Saturdays. It has happened that quantities of cargo, such as potatoes, onions, meat, and dairy produce, etc., have been left behind by steamers simply because the men refused to work after noon on Saturdays. If the quantities standing in-trucks at noon wei'e large the steamers invariably waited until the Monday to take in the cargo, but the delay imperilled the perishables, and urgent cargo already on board. If only a small quantity of cargo were standing in trucks at noon on Saturday the steamers would probably sail, and this cargo would be left behind, thus causing loss and inconvenience to the shippers and farmers alike. "Prom tlie above, therefore, it will be seen that the employers are actually offering 1-Jd an hour extra to the watersiders if they will only carry out the award as issued by the Court, and winch as above-mentioned, has been agreed to elsewhere."