THE WATERSIDERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 349, 7 February 1917, Page 6

THE WATERSIDERS.

FREE LABOUR AT WANGANUI.

NATIONAL RESERVE TURNS OUT.

Wanganui, Feb. 6.

The National Reserve marched to the wharf this evening to assist, but found that more than sufficient labour was available. There was no disturbance of any kind. The watersiders are viewing the situation with indifference.

Officials stated to-night that in comparison with several months past the cargo was handled in record time.

A conference of employers and watersiders was suggested for tomorrow but was declined by the employers.

ACTION BY EMPLOYERS

The Hawke’s Bay Employers’ Association yesterday forwarded the following letter to the secretary of the Napier Watersiders’ Union: —

“As your union refused to work under agreement conditions whilst work is being carried on under these conditions in Wellington and other ports, I am instructed to inform you that unless the waterside workers are prepared to resume work under agreement conditions not/ later than midday to-morrow, Wednesday, the 7th inst., the employers will have to take such steps as they deem necessary’ to carry out the work of this port, and I am further instructed to state that unless work is resumed the ships now waiting for loading and discharge will be ordered to other ports. The usual call for labour will take place at 7.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. to-morrow Wednesday.”

CONFERENCE DECLINED. Wanganui, Feb. 7. The situation on the water front is the same as yesterday’. Free labourers are working the Breeze, Storm, Kapiti and Putiki. The steamer John finished discharging and loading and left for Wellington this morning. The Inspector of the award endeavoured to arrange a conference between the parties, but the employers’ federation declined, stating that in their opinion there was no need for a conference as there was nothing to discuss.

AVORK RESUMED AT GISBORNE. Gisborne, Feb. 7. The waterside trouble has been amicably settled by the Disputes Committee. The men resume work at one o’clock, and permanent hands are reinstated.

FREE LABOUR INVITED.

In. this issue the employers are making an appeal to the citizens and residents of Hawke’s Bay to provide labour to keep the ' port open, and especially to work Imperial vessels, carrying meat and wool, which is urgently required for the purpose of feeding and clothing our troops fighting at the front and the people of the Empire. The employers have been forced into this position by the impossible working conditions demanded by the Union. As an instance they refuse to work except between the hours of 8. a.m., and 5 p.m., which when loading vessels in a roadstead would reduce the actual working hours to such an extent that it would take three times as long to load the steamers as under the present working conditions which have been in existence for thirty years.