OYSTERMEN’S DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 23563, 30 April 1940, Page 4

OYSTERMEN’S DISPUTE

Ha MORE SUPPLIES ARGUMENT OVER TYPE OF CONTAINER Onco again, supplies of oysters arc cut off from Dunedin, and other points further north. For the second time this year, a strike of the fishermen is the cause of it.- For the second time, the whole proceeding has been kept very dark, and practically the only information allowed to filter through to the public is that oysters arc no longer available. The last consignment, received yesterday, is still selling in the shops, but no information is available in Dunedin as to when further supplies will be available. Bluff oystermen are members of the Seamen’s Union and to a large extent are controlled by that body. An official of the union is at present visiting. Bluff, and has been holding meetings with the men. It was reported on Sunday night (states'the ‘ Southland - Times ’) that the oystermen had stated to the merchant’s terms on which they would bo prepared to take the boats to the beds and dredge for oysters, but that the merchants insisted on the continuation of the present terms. The men have hitherto been paid for oysters at a fixed rate for a sack. About ja. month ago they demanded a substantial increase in the rates. A hold-up resulted and the fleet did not go t’o the beds for more than a' week. After a conference arranged by an officer of the Labour Department, an agreement was reached on a number of points in dispute, and the men agreed to resume work, the final details of the agreement to be arranged later. The oystermen have since approached the merchants with a proposition that payment should bo made at the rate of sixpence a box of fixed measurement. It is stated that the size of the box is about equivalent to a third of a sack. The merchants have rejected these terms on the grounds that they sell oysters on a sack basis and they are not interested in any other container.

The oyster fleet did not go to the beds on Saturday, but the weather was not suitable for dredging. The weather was fine on Sunday, but no boats were out.