WATERSIDE POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 52, 2 March 1921, Page 8

WATERSIDE POSITION

NO REPLY FROM THE

FEDERATION

SHIPS CREWS TO BE PAID OFF

The silence of the Waterside Workers' Federation continues, and the absence of an early reply to the demand for assurances that the terms of the agreement will be strictly adhered to is given an unfavourable interpretation. It is feared in many quarters to-day that the outlook is anything but promising, and that the federation is not likely to give the assurances required. In that case important developments are anticipated. Even now shipping is practically at a. standstill, and unless a favourable reply is received in the meantime the crews of all ships now held up in Wellington and elsewhere will be paid off on Friday. The difficulty regarding coal is becoming more pronounced, and Wellington is threatened with a serious shortage of many essential commodities.

It is announced by the Union S.S. Co. and W. M. Bannatyne and Co. that, commencing to-day, the ferry steamers Wahine, Maori, Arahura, Mapourika, Kaitoa, and Nikau will carry perishable and urgent cargo only. This move, it is understood, has been made as a result of a deoision arrived at by the Shipowners' Federation, which is aiming, as far as possible, to bring the ferry boats into •. line with other vessels as far as cargo-carrying is concerned. The decision means that cargo, such as timber, will in future not be received. Fruit and general produce, however, will not be excluded.

The number of idle vessels has not been added to since yesterday, but the Poverty Bay- Sheepfarmers' steamer Admiral Codrington, with a shipment of hardwood from i Burnbury, Western Australia, .'' should arrive in port during the afternoon. The vessel, according to a radio message received last night, expected to arrive at noon, but ehe is being. delayed by thick weather in the Strait. The New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Hororata, which has been loading at Wellington, left for Wanganui this morning, and a further number of watersiders were thrown out of employment. Two liners—the Zealandic (which is to complete^ homeward loading at Wellington), and the Wes* Camargo (which is to continue the discharge of her cargo from San Franoisco), are due here tomorrow. Both wpl anchor in the stream, thus bringing the number there up to eighteen. The Union Company's steamer Flora arrived at Wellington this morning from Pictoh, but after putting out sheep at Petone uhe left again for New Plymouth.