ON THE WATERFRONT

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 42, 18 February 1921, Page 7

ON THE WATERFRONT

EMPLOYERS TAKE DRASTIC

STEPS

MEN'S METHODS CANNOT BE

TOLERATED

SHIPPING TO BE HELD UP

A position, similar to that which existed on the> waterfront at the time of the Meikai Maru hold-up andjiie Calm hold-up has developed in Wellington, but there is this difference. Fresh engagements of lab. our will not be made until a "satisfactory guarantee" is given by the Waterside Workers' Federation and the unions that the normal conduct of the work of the ships will be resumed. The position, therefore, is

regarded as extremely serious. Tho

trouble is not confined to WeJJing- ! ton on this pecasion, and th« de-

clsion, which was announced at 5

o'clock yesterday afternoon, will 'operate in all centres where irritation tactics are being practised by the. watersiders. Such tactics have been in evidence in Wellington and elsewhere since the middle of last week; ■ the refusal to work overtime

being the chief feature.

Again yesterday . afternoon several gangs refused to work overtime last night. The employers had made upj their minds what would happen if the men did not change their attitude, and the men were warned accordingly. Mr. W. H. Q. Bennett, general manager of the Co-operative Waterside Employment Association, personally addressed the' men on the Durham, Karori, and Ngakuta. :He- told them that unless they. resumed work- after 5 o'clock there ■.voul^ be iio fresh engagements on the Wellington waterfront until the men, the union, and the federation gave assurances that irritation' tactics would cease. .In «ach case he gave the men ten minutes to reconsider their decision. At the end of ten minutes the men stated that they would not work after 5 o'clock. The employers felt satisfied that they had given , the men every warning and every opportunity to resume normal .working operations. At 5 o'clock the employers made a statement ■, to the' presß setting out the history of the trouble and the. drastic steps they proposed to take.