WATERSIDERS’ TACTICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 March 1925, Page 6

WATERSIDERS’ TACTICS

LYTTeLtON DEVELOPMENT

(Special to “Star.”

CHRISTCHURCH, March 25.

Speculation as to the methods employed by the emissaries of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, in conveying secret instructions to men on the Lyttelton wharves, is quite an interesting topic of discussion in the port just now. It is an open secret (says the “Star”) that when the information reaches Lyttelton, it is passed on to the men by “runners” who whisper into the receptive ears of certain leaders the day’s instructions. These leaders then pass the word on to the other men in the gangs, and the “runners” move on to the next wharf. Among those particularly interested in the outbreak of “wharf warfare,” that has been in operation during the past couple of weeks, opinion is strongly held that the “secrets” are brought from Wellington by trusted members of the crews of the ferry steamers. These men it is believed act as emissaries on behalf of headquarters, the result being that there is no possibility of leakage occurring, or of instructions being late in arriving at the Lyttelton office' of the Union. The Union officials have up to the present guarded the instructions' with scrupulous care, but there is good reason for the belief that the employers are getting to know of what is going on, and that matters may shortly be brought to a head.

It is stated that a large section of Lyttelton watersiders are now thoroughly “fed up” with the pinpricking tactics, they have been forced to employ, and that if a leader appeared, who was prepared to defy the authcyity of the Federation officials, fully 90 per cent, of the men would follow him. Questions are being asked as to why Lyttelton should be picked out as the battleground between the Federation and shipping companies, and why none of the other main ports are taking a hand in matters at present. The attitude of many of the men is that they have been "the lambs” long enough, and that it is time they were allowed to get back to normal working conditions. Meanwhile, the situation at the port is developing steadily, and the overtime strike seems to be called to a halt. How long this attitude will continue probably depends on whether the men or their officials decide the matter. If a secret ballot of the men were taken it is considered that an overwhelming majority would vote foi' a return to normal conditions, and complete cessation of irritation methods.