SITUATION AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26357, 27 February 1951, Page 6

SITUATION AT LYTTELTON

WATERFRONT QUIET EXTRA POLICEMEN AT PORT The waterfront at Lyttelton yesterday was quiet after the waterside workers had confirmed their stand in the dispute. . The only evident development during the day was the arrival of reinforcements of police from Christchurch during the morning. The regular establishment at Lyttelton is about 11 men, but 16 more were moved to live in the port in the meantime. SubInspector J. J. Kearns has taken charge.

The union meeting, lasting an hour and a half, agreed "that this branch of the union stands firm in the national policy." The secretary (Mr F. J. Balchan) said the meeting was the largest ever held in Lyttelton, nearly 800 members crowding into the Coronation Hall. They included several men on sick and compensation leave.

Mr Balchan said employment offered would be worked on an eight-hour day basis and the men would report for duty every day. The inter-island steamer would be worked as usual by members not on penalty. The employers again offered work yesterday morning, but on the condition that normal hours with overtime must be observed.

When the men returned home after their meeting, most of them carried the contents of their lockers. Officials said that files and .records were not being removed from the union office as in Auckland. The Coronation Hall was locked yesterday afternoon, i Perishable goods are not being accepted by the Railways Department at Christchurch for shipment to the North Island in the meantime. Mr W. A. Breach, district traffic manager, said last evening that the position was being watched and advice from Wei- 1 llngton was being awaited.