WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9690, 11 May 1923, Page 5

WATERSIDE DISPUTE

TROUBLE OVER ADMIRAL CODRINGTON.

AIEN AVILL NOT WORK VESSEL AFTER 5 P.M

PROTEST AGAINST AVORKING CONDITIONS-

A dispute occurred on the waterfront yesterday over the loading of the s.s. Admiral Codrington, now lying in the roadstead, as a result of which the watersiders refused- to work the vessel after 5 p.m. Air. AV. D. Lysnar, managing director of the P.B. Meat Co., owners of the Admiral Codrington, made the following statement last night concerning the position The P.B. Farmers' - Meat Co. had four barge loads of meat down at the wharf in railway frucks yesterday in readiness to he taken out to the s.s. Admiral Codrington in the Bay. The secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union (Air. H. McErlain) was asked if the men would go on working during the night until they had finished the meat. This would be equivalent to a small day's work, and in addition the men would be paid waiting time. The watersiders’ secretary informed the Aleat Co.'s representatives that a meeting of the men would be held to discuss the matter. The meeting of the watersiders was held at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and the secretary then told tlie Company's representatives that while the harbor was in its present state tlie men would not work after 5 inn. each day. Representations were then made by Air. AV. D. Lysnar, ALP., managing director of the P.B. Farmers’ Aleat Co., Captain Holmes, and Messrs. A. Puflett and; AV. Beauchamp, to the secretary of the AVaterside AVorkers’ Union. Air. Lysnar asked that if two barges of meat were sent out would tiie men empty them? If the men assented to this another barge would be loaded and dispatched. ALr. McErlain stated that the men required to come in before dark, and in his opinion there was no time to do the two barges, but the employers’ representatives did not think so. They considered it could not be done. Air. AlcErlain added that the men had taken this course, so as to enter a protest against the narbor conditions. They wanted something done for speedy relief. That was their object in refusing to work. Air. Lysnar stated, that seeing none of the parties concerned had anything to do with what the Harbor Board did, it was a very unreasonable attitude for the AVatersiders’ Union to take up, which only aggravated tlie position and stopped the men, whom he felt sure, needed and wanted the work, from working. The secretary replied that the decision was the unanimous decision of a meeting of 200 watersiders. As the secretary would not give an assurance of completely discharging the second barge, the meat was not being loaded. Very probably the meat will have to be returned to the works for re-conditioning, as it has already been on the wharf since AA’ednesday morning. This was pointed out to tlie watersiders’ secretary, who replied that he did not mind that, as that was no concern of theirs. The men wanted to bring pressure on the Harbor Board. To this Air. Lysnar pointed out that those interested had nothing to do with the Harbor Board, and that it was not right for the Union, as a hotly, to use this to make the matters of the port worse than they were. In their attitude the Union was doing a wrong to the men who wanted to work. Air. AlcErlain replied they thought it ,the best way to bring pressure on tlie Harbor Board. At the same time lie said it was not safe for the men to be out after 5 p.m. It was pointed out to the secretary that that was no argument at this juncture as there was absolutely no wind or sea. The Bay was as calm as a mill-pond. The question arose as to whether the action of the men did not make a breach of fhe award. Capt. Holmes asked for a meeting of the Dispute* Committee as the three of their members of the committee were present. Air. AlcErlain replied that two of their members of the Disputes Committee were out in the Bay. and, the committee therefore could not meet until they came back. In response to a further question, lie said that they could not provide substitutes for tlie absent members of the Disputes Committee.

It had been intended to work tlie other boats in the Bay yesterday afternoon. However, through the men's at- j tihide it was not considered advisable to start work on the general cargo. Had the men carried out the wish of the Poverty Bay Meat Co. to load the four barges of meat into the s-s. Admiral Codrington it would have been possible to have done two on yesterday afternoon's tide, the men on the vessel then to wait out for five or six hours until the second two lighters came out. The men, too, would have been paid full, waiting time, while not working, and would have finished about one o’clock this morning. They would have been able to come in at full title, without any lisle, whereas it was impossible to get the men in safely if they knocked off at 5 p.m. as it was nearly low water. By the action of the men they were taking a grave risk to get in then, whereas at a later time there ' would be no risk at all. As a barge would be unable to get out before 10 or 11 o'clock this morning the men would have had plenty of time for rest.. As an extra precaution for the lighters having to wait out for a longer period than usual, owing to the silted harbor conditions, and. an unusual num- ■ ber of lighters being out at the one ] time, it was arranged'that the Tuatea and the Hipi. in addition to the G.S.F.M. and M. Co.'s tugs and Harbor Board launch would keep outside in atj tendance during the low water period. The matter of the lighters remaining out over the low-water period has been i tlie practice of the port, j As showing the effect of the men's decision it will practically reduce the working period to four hours per day. To-morrow the smaller barges couldi not leave the wharf before 10 or 11 j a.m., at the earliest, and if they have I to" he in by five it would mean that i the men would have to stop work at i 4 p.m. so as to get over the bar while j there is sufficient water. Taking reducj tions for travelling time, half an hour i each way aucl one hour for a meal, it . leaves fliur hours work in the Bay. By 1 the attitude of the men it would make I it impossible to carry on the work of I the port. While it will not only liamj per the work of the port it will seriousj ly restrict the men's earning power,, j consequently injuring themselyes and 1 families, as well as the district and [ the port as a whole. ! The secretary of the Employers’ AsI sociation is taking the necessary steps j to call a Disputes Committee meeting, j It was hoped that a meeting of the ' Disputes Committee might be held last j night with a view to coming to a settlei ment, hut it could not be arranged, j Negotiations will, however, be continued to-day, when it is hoped that an : agreement can be arrived at In the meantime, the loading of the Admiral Codrington is being very seriously interfered with. It was anticipated. A everything had gone well, to have disj patched the vessel from Gisborne at the beginning of next week, but under pre- ' I sent conditions, the time of her departure is indefinitely delayed.