WATERFRONT TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 10

WATERFRONT TROUBLE

THE LYTTELTON DISPUTE

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE Mf

WELLINGTON.

As a sequel to the trouble which has been experienced on the waterfront at Lyttelton during the past few weeks, a conference is at present being held in Wellington in an endeavour to arrive at a solution of the difficulty. It is stated that if no settlement is reached there are likely to be far-reaching effects. It will be recalled that some months ago the employers agreed to advance the rates of pay of watersiders by lid per hour on condition that they should work on Saturday afternoons. The matter was referred to a ballot of waterside unions throughout New Zealand, and all the unions agreed to accept the condition with the exception of that at Lyttelton. The result was that the increase was not paid to the ■ Lyttelton watersidera, and since then there have been several stoppages of work on the waterfront at that port. Just recently the matter reached a head, and it was decided to hold a conference of the parties in Wellington. This conference commenced on Tuesday, and has been sitting ever since. It is understood that-certain proposals were submitted to the conference by representatives of the men this morning, but so far no information as to the result of the negotiations has been made available.