SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Evening Star, Issue 21623, 19 January 1934, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

WELLINGTON WATERFRONT IDLE LABOUR UNRESPONSIVE TO GALLS ONLY FERRY SERVICES BEING WORKED [Pee United Press Association,] WELLINGTON, January 19. No work is being done on the Wellington' waterfront except in the case of the ferry services to the South Island. The waterside workers will hold a stopwork meeting to-morrow morning, so that the men on unemployment relief may attend. The underlying cause of the troubles is the desire among the men for the more equal distribution of work. Except for the ferry boats all calls for gangs have been without response. EARLY DEVELOPMENT ONLY ONE VESSEL CONCERNED (Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 18. Three vessels—one overseas (the Huntingdon) and two coastal (the Opihi and Holmdale) —were unable to work cargo at Wellington, to-day owing to a further hold-up by the waterside workers. The dispute really concerned one vessel only, the remaining two being unfortunate in becoming involved in the hold-up. The dispute was exactly similar to that which held up the Narbada and the Hauraki on January 12. In that case work was resumed the following day, the men agreeing to carry on while the question was gone into by a committee representing both the shipowners and the waterside workers. This committee was actually to have met this morning to continue its discussion on the question. Under the present agreement the shipping companies are well within their rights in engaging labour in the manner which has led to the present dispute, this being specifically covered in a clause in the agreement. The Local Disputes Committee _ met this morning to consider the dispute but no definite agreement was reached today.