THE WATERSIDERS

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1917, Page 5

THE WATERSIDERS

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. ONLY A FEW MEN WORKING (Per Press Association ) WELLINGTON, February 1. At the 7.45 0 'clock call for labour >n the waterfront to-day, though there verc a great number of men about the stands, none would accept work on che Home liner concerning which there ias been trouble in regard to dump.ng, the stipulation being made that Jumping should proceed. Consequently labour for other boats was not engaged. With the exception of the vVellington-Lyttelton ferry steamer I .Ylaori only the boats which were work: iiig yesterday and the ferry steamer are to-day being discharged or loaded, i'he vessels affected are mainly units Ji" the coastal fleet. ■ '• 1 STATEMENT BY EMPLOYER. DUMPED CARGO MUST BE 'WORKED. MAYOR APPEALS TO THE MEN. WELLINGTON, February 2. A call was made at 7.45 0 'clqek this morning for men to work cargo at the ihips lying at the wharf. There was ao response so far as the large steamers were concerned, but work on the ioasting vessels proceeded as usual. At 1 0 'clock Mr. Bennett, Manager of die Employment Association, asked if the men were prepared to work on Jumped .cargo. They declined and Mr. Bennett then announced that he would not call for men for any other vessel all the discharge of cargo from the steamer on which the dumping dispute jccurred was finished. The dispute has now been referred to 'the Citizens' Defence Committee, Which announces that till the union is prepared to work all ships under the ;erms of the current agreement the jmployers will be compelled to resort to such voluntary labour as may be available. The Defence Committee also points Jut that the union committed breaches of agreement this week by refusing to accept engagements at the hours statJd in the agreement; by .restricting :he number of boxes of butter in a aoist; by refusing to dump cargo: and ■,oy refusing to work after 5 n. m# when required: • The Mayor to-night is making an ippoal to the watersiders to resume •york at .tins' time of stress and in /iew of the specially urgent need ror :hc dispatch of foodstuffs for the -Im>orial Government's use. -NABIER MEN REFUSE TO WAIT. NAPIER, February 1. The watersiders attended from 8 to > 0 'clock at the aiteS this mornings -md as there were- no engagement's* hey went home. , The. collier Kurow requires unloading but it is believed :hat the Union Company will order ier to another port. Later in the day he men will offer between 1 and 2 p.m. to accept work, but only on condition that there is no overtime.