NO FRESH LABOUR ENGAGED TO-DAY

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1917, Page 8

NO FRESH LABOUR ENGAGED TO-DAY

MAJORITY OP MEN IDLE

There was another unexpected development on the .waterfront this morning. Most of the wharf workers did not turn up for engagement until about 8 o'clock, instead of the usual time, 7.45 a.m., with the result that the labour foremen did not engage them. The outcome was that only the gangs employed yesterday were working, while between 600 and 700 men were waiting about- tho wharves or sitting on the stringers with no work to do.

The unloading of the Edward Luckenbach was proceeded with by the gangs which worked .her yesterday, ami restricted loading" or discharging operations Were continued on some of the other vessels. The loading of the frozen carcases sent down by the Longburn Freezing Company was completed about midday. It was anticipated that the task would have been finished about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, .as the trucks arrived at 8 a.m. yesterday, but the methods adopted were not favourable to the work being expeditiously carried out. Fortunately the meat was in. the company's .owji trucks, which are ,spe-, cially insulated, and consequently it was in excellent condition in spite of the unxepected delay. is all Imperial meat. It is understood that the freezing companies, in view of the uncertainty that exists, are not sending any further frozen meat to the port for shipment at present. The vessel receiving the meat is stiE some 30,000 freight 'carcases short. The loading of cheese on the same vessel was proceeded with throughout day. . .

There was a very.'large'muster of men tliis afternoon at 1 o'clock, the hour for the afternoon call, but only a very small handful—about ten or a dozen—were taken on to do urgent coaling work. After that most of the men left the wharves. ■ ■ . It is understood that a list (containing 62 names) of the men who were concerned in the trouble'-with ■ regard to *tho working of two Home liners on Monday has been prepared^ with a view.'<o not engaging -these',men in future. ..