MARAROA'S DELAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 90, 16 April 1923, Page 8

MARAROA'S DELAY

BUNKERING AFTER 5 O'CLOCK

DISPUTE WITH WATERSIDE

WORKERS.

With regard to the delay in tha departure of- the Mararoa for the South on Saturday night, and the dispute with waterside workers in regard to bunkering the vessel after 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the following statement was made to-day by Mr. W. H. G. Bennett, manager of the Waterside Employment Association: "The Mararoa was delayed on Saturday owing to certain engine troubles. When it was found that she would not be in until late in the afternoon the question of bunkering the ship was considered. It has been the practice of the waterside workers to cease work at 5 p.m. on Saturdays. As this was a very exceptional case, the men who were put on at 1 o'clock were called together shortly after that hour on the Ferry Wharf and spoken to by myself, as the representative of the Waterside Employment Association. I pointed out the exceptional circumstances of the case, and asked the men to carry on and finish the bunkering of the ship bo that she could sail at night again with a lar^e number of passengers who .were waiting- to return to Lyttelton. I stressed the urgency of the case, and Eaid it was only owing to the unfortunate breakdown that the position had occurred. Th« men took a ballot and decided they would not work. This left the Union Company in a very awkward position. The vessel duly arrived in Wellington shortly after 4 p.m. ' Work was commenced of discharging . the cargo and bunkering, but at 5 p.m. promptly all the members of the Waterside Worken' Union ceased work, and walked ashore. The number employed was 65 men. The company then, in order to keep faith with the travelling public, had'to secure labour wherever it could —the Union Company's permanent staff, assisted by labour from other sources—and thus the ship was enabled to sail at 10 p.m." In this connection. Mr. Bennett stated that the award distinctly provides for work being carried on after 5 p.m. on Saturdays, do that the men were actually committing a breach of the award in refusing to carry on the work. This matter is now being considered by the employers, and it will be decided in the near future what steps are to be taken in the mntter.

Mr. L. Glover, president ol the Watersida Workers' Union, stated to-day, that ho was not yet conversant with the details of the trouble, and, therefore, was r.ot in a. position to make a statement from the men's point of view.