LABOUR SHORTAGE ON WHARVES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25080, 11 January 1947, Page 6

LABOUR SHORTAGE ON WHARVES

SHIP DIVERTED FROM WELLINGTON

FULL CARGO OF WHEAT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. The Union Steam Ship Company’s intercolonial vessel Kantane, which has been at Wellington since Monday night, sailed to-day for New Plymouth because of a labour shortage here. Since she reached Wellington she has had no labour of any kind to unload her full cargo of wheat. It is hoped that there will be sufficient labour at New Plymouth. This is the first time a ship has been diverted from Wellington because of a shortage of labour.

With the sailing to-day of the Port Saint John and the Gothic Star for Lyttelton, and the Karitane for New Plymouth, the congestion at Wellington was slightly relieved. The Papanui is expected to sail for Auckland on Monday, and the Avonmoor, which, has been at Wellington loading wool for the United Kingdom, is expected to sail for Napier the same day. The labour position on the waterfront was still very serious to-day. Several ships were completely without labour, and the majority of the others were working short-handed.

The Port Tauranga, which has been at Wellington for a week, has had no labour since her arrival. She is waiting to discharge timber from Australia. There is no prospect of her beginning to discharge before Monday or Tuesday. The coastal vessels Storm and Breeze had no labour, and the Waihemo, Salamaua, Waimarino, and Kartigi were all working short. OVERTIME DECLINED AT GREYMOUTH From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, January 10. - A call for overtime labour to load the Karu, which is scheduled to arrive at Greymouth frpm Wellington tonight to load a cargo of coal for Wellington, proved fruitless, and work will not commence on the vessel until Monday morning. This makes it apparent that local waterside workers are supporting the national executive in its attitude on the waterfront dispute. The Karu has been, delayed by heavy seas, and is not expected until 11 o’clock to-night. The Kaimai is also expected early from Wellington to load coal, but has been delayed by crew shortage. No advice has been received of the early arrival of other vessels, but it is known that some ships, which regularly ply between Greymouth and northern ports, are undergoing their annual inspection, so prospects are for another lean week for waterside workers at Greymouth.

MEETING WITH MINERS POSTPONED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 10. The meeting of Huntly miners planned for next Sunday to hear representations on the waterfront dispute has been postponed because the national executive of the Federation of Labour has notified the Northern Miners’ Union that it would be unable to send representatives to address the miners at such short notice. In making the statement to-day, Mr S'- Ha P’ secretary of the Northern Miners Union said the meeting might be held at a later date, possibly on Sunday week.