DEADLOCK ENDED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 229, 27 August 1932, Page 12

DEADLOCK ENDED

FREE LABOUR UTILISED. Per Press Association. HAWERA, Aug. 26. "With the signing off of the crews of the vessels Hawera and Kapuni, a deadlock was reached in the waterside dispute at Patea this morning, but there was a surprise turn of events this afternoon when the Hawera, which arrived in port from Wellington on Saturday with general cargo, was unloaded by free labour. Unionists made no attempt nt interference and the discharge of cargo was completed. The deadlock had resulted from the watersiders’ refusal to accept the South Taranaki Shining Company’s offer, which differed rrom the Dominion rates of pay, and the subsequent refusal to resume work under any conditions till the company reinstated five store employees who were dismissed for declining to work the cargo. The vessel thus being idle, the crews were paid off. The possibility of far-reaching consequences to the port following the trouble was indicated in an interview by Mr J. R. Corrigan, chairman of the West Coast Refrigerating Company, of which the South Taranaki Shipping Company is a subsidiary concern.

The presont being a slack season, with no dairy produce shipments for six weeks, the Hawera was being laid up for overhaul, said Mr Corrigan. The refrigerating and shipping companies _ would have an opportunity of reviewing the whole position as far as the port was concerned. He understood the Railway Department was prepared to negotiate for a railway contract to Wellington that would compete with the cost of seaborne traffic. The shipping company had recently received inquiries regarding the sale of the, vessels, and, though nothing would be done until an acceptable railway contract had been arranged, there was a distinct prospect of revolutionary changes being made. lin the event of shipping being continued from Patea, Mr Corrigan contended the company should have the right to employ its storemen working the company's cargo on the company’s own boats. Patea, being a tidal port, should not be restricted to conditions as were the larger pons. The unionists were willing to work gor a general rate of Is lid an hour with the usual overtime rates. He offered 2s an hour for eight hours with overtime after eight hours.

The secretary of the Patea watersiders’ Union says the union was offered 2s an hour with no conditions and no mention of overtime. He was awaiting developments from "Wellington.