HATCH DISPUTE NOT SETTLED YET: LYTTELTON DELAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 6

HATCH DISPUTE NOT SETTLED YET: LYTTELTON DELAY

"(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 24. Quoting a certificate by the surveyor of ships that the hatches of the steamer Fort Michipicoten were safe to be manhandled, the Lyttelton branch manager of the Waterfront Control Commission, Captain M. M. McArthur, yesterday issued an instruction that normal work on the ship was to be resumed at 1 p.m. The instruction for normal working, meaning the lifting of the vessel’s hatches by hand without the aid of mechanical appliances, was not obeyed. The ship was made idle by the dismissal at 3.30 p.m. of the last two gangs of labour originally employed. No developments on the Lyttelton waterfront are now expected until Monday, as the necessary advice that they required labour was not given by 4 p.m. yesterday by the employers. No meeting of the port committee w.as held yesterday morning as the representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Union refused to attend. No further meeting will be convened until normal work is resumed. Surveyor’s Inspection “I have this day inspected the hatches of the Fort Michipicoten and I certify that they comply in all respects with the provisions of the general harbours regulations and are safe to be manhandled,’’ read the certificate issued to the Marine Department bv Mr. D. McCiymont. surveyor of ships at Lyttelton, and mentioned by the port controller in his instruction for the resumption of normal work for the watersiders.

It is claimed that their objections to lifting the hatches manually are the same as in the Mountpark at Auckland. They contend that sections of the hatches weigh as much as 1601 b. and their handling involves unnecessary risks, especially for men lifting the mid-hatch end. where they have a precarious foothold on a narrow stcei girder with the open hold below them.

The workers also claim that on several other cargo ships the practice is to lift the hatches mechanically. For the employers, it has been stated that the longest hatches are lift. Cin. with a width of 18in. and a thickness of upwards of 2in. Three hatches on the Fort Michipicoten. Nos. 1, 4 and 5, wqre lifted manually by men on Tuesday and also on Thursday when Work was resumted after a hold-up because of rain on Wednesday, Men Ignore Dismissal

When the men reported back for work on Thursday at 6 p.m. they called for steam for the winches and refused to lift the hatches by hand. They were dismissed. The “dismissed ’ men reappeared on the ship yesterday wnd “nested” the hatches in the middle for lifting. Mechanical lifting was not made available. The dismissal of the final two gangs took place yesterday.

At No 2 hold when the ship arrived from Sydney hardwood telegraph poles were piled on both sides of the hatch up to the coaming. Because of deck cargo the Union Steam Ship Company considered that the lifting of the hatches for the unloading of a cargo of oranges and pineapples was unsafe and the hatches were lifted by the winches. After the fruit cargo was discharged the hatches were replaced and the poles discharged. The deck was clear to load the hatches on one side, but when the men returned for Thursday evening’s work, they refused to manhandle the hatches. Two crane gangs were dismised. The only hatch on the ship not manned was No. 3, in which hold no cargo was carried.