CEMENT AND MEN'S HANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1297, 28 November 1911, Page 6

CEMENT AND MEN'S HANDS.

IN STEAMEES , HOLDS. On September I lost tho Waterside, Workers' Federation, sitting ia Auckland, carried a resolution to tbo effect that wharf labourers should rofuso to handle cement unless packed in dust-proof basjs or cask?. Tho news reached the shippinc companies .it Home in due courM, and they decided, at a conference, to give notice to hohl consignees nt all ports responsible for auy expense resulting from non-compliance, with tho terms of (lie ve.-filulion. Such, at any rate, is the cable advice received by a local mcrchiiiit. It would seem Hint the shipping companies have been beating the air to some «'xl<mt, for tho resolution was clearly never intended (o apply to imported eeniPiit, which always arrives hrro in nackaßes lined with dust-proof paper. Tho resolution had reference to eoloniii! cement, which is not so packed by the four manufacturing companies in tho Dominion. These have been notified by circular and by advertisement of the intention of Die frdiM-ation. They wero Riven nolicp that the unions would refuse (o handle wiiienl: not packed in dust-proof bags or casks after Jnnuary 1 next. An extension nf timu has Ijeen praiilsd lo one Auckland company, and it is nnt expci-lml that tho oilier companies will mako any objection.