Ships Held Up

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 38, 15 February 1938, Page 2

Ships Held Up

TWO UNIONS IN CONFLICT From Our Own Correspondent. NAPIER, Feb. 14. In consequence of conflicting clause* In the awards which cover the work of seamen and waterside workers in re-, gard to loading small coastal vessels,* difficulties have arisen in the loading of; several of the Richardson Co.’s vessels and at the present time two are being held up, one at Gisborne and the other at Napier. , The actual dispute appears to be between two unions, with the shipowners and shippers the major sufferers owing to serious dislocation of shipping, and strong representations have been made •to the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. •Fraser, urging him to bring together the two parties concerned with a view to a speedy settlement of the dispute. At the present time the Seamen’s Union and the Waterside Workers’ Union each claim certain rights which the other disputes. The watersiders claim the right to work all winches and tackle in connection with the loading and unloading of cargo on vessels under 250 tons; the Seamen’s Union claim the same right otherwise they will not take the ships to sea. As a result of this dispute the Mako is held up at Gisborne and the Awahou at Napier. It will be recalled that last week the Koau arrived at Gisborne from Napier to load 350 bales of wool which were to be transhipped to the Benledi at Tologa Bay, but on account of this same dispute the Koau was held up, and the previous week the Awahou was delayed until a compromise was •reached. -