SHIPPING DISPUTE

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1937, Page 4

SHIPPING DISPUTE

MANNING OF WINCHES Watersiders v. Seamen VESSELS AT LYTTELTON DELAYED. [Per Press Association]. CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. There was a dispute between the seamen and the waterside workers as to the manning of winches of the small coastal vessel Taupata, at Lyttelton. Another vessel, the Union Steam Ship Company’s Waimarino, was also held up to-day. She was sent away this evening with most of her Auckland cargo for Lyttelton still in the holds. On the Taupata this morning, the watersiders repeated their demand that watersiders should displace seamen at the winches. This was refused by the agents for the vessel, and the men thereupon left for their homes, most of them travelling by the 9.21 a.m., train. The Taupata is still held up. The. trouble on the Waimarino arose concerning the engagement of railway labour. Only sufficient union labour for one gang was secured. The railway watersiders from the Taupata presented themselves for engagement, claiming preference to the nonunion labour then available. Officials of the Railway Department declined to engage the men, on the ground that they were still under engagement for the uncompleted job at the Taupata. No attempt was made, however, to engage the non-union men. On the Waimarino only one gang were able to begin work, the remainder of ships’ watersiders, about 75 men, standing-by for two hours and threequarters, for which they will be paid until dismissed. The whole dispute has been referred to the Shipowners’ Federation at Wellington.