TIMARU WHARF TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 6

TIMARU WHARF TROUBLE.

9 EXTENDING TO LYTTELTON. (By Teletrrarh.—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 12. An echo of tho trouble at Timaru, where the waterside workers have ceased work, was heard at Lyttelton this morning. The Union Company's steamer Wairuna, from Newcastle, via Timaru, arrived at Lyttelton this morning to discharge part of her cargo of coal. The vessel brought on 150 lons of coal which was to have been discharged at Timaru, had not the men ceased work. The Wiaimna. was to have started discharging at Lyttelton at 8 o'clock this morning, but tho mon. decided to refuse to hondlo any of tho coal in tho ship pending the receipt of advice from Timaru, and consequently tho vessel remained idle. Mr. 11. R. Voyco, secretary of the Lyttelton Waterside 'Workers' X r nion, telegraphed to Timaru for definite information concerning the trouble there, and will probably go to Timaru to-morrow. About 9.30 a.m. to-day a meeting of the Lyttelton waterside workers was held in the Coronation Hall. There were about 120 or 130 men present. The gathering was addressed by Mr. R. Scmple, organiser for tho New Zealand Federation of Labour, who spoke for ovt>r an hour and a half on matters connected with the Federation. Ho strongly urged the men to support tho Federation. At noon the mooting adjourned for the lunch hour. Mi-. Voyco informed a reporter that no decision had been arrived at regarding the working of the Wairuna, or whether any further action would be taken by the Lyttelton men in regard to matters at Tininm, but it was expected that tho meeting would mako a definite decision this afternoon. The Blackball Coal Company has doeided in view of the trouble at Tim urn that the collier Ngnhcre, which was to have left Grcymouth to-night for Timaru and Lyttelton, will now go to Wellington. The secretary of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union received the following telegram this afternoon from Mr. Gould, secretory of tho Tiiuaru Union: "Casual railwnymen on strike hero with union permanent men put on to scab. Chinese crew working boat. Advise your port to take drastic action at once,— Gould." Mr. Voyco, secretary of the Lyttelton Union, informed a. reporter that at their meeting the Lyttelton men had decided to advise tho Timaru Union (<> resume worl; lauding a conference between representatives of the Timaru. Lvltelton, and West port Unions with the' Federation of Labour officials and the shipping companies at Dmicdin earlv next week. Mr. Voyco stated that m all probability tho Tijnwu. jlrDw would terminate. to-uian»w.