COULD STATES THE FACTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 12

COULD STATES THE FACTS.

A letter from R. Gould, secretary of the Timaru Watersiders' Union, states the facts in connection Avith the recent strike there. In answer to the demands of the men, a conference wan held on December, 8, when the employers offered to concede the following rates: For general cargo, Is 6d (same as at present); for superphosphates and manure in bulk, Is 9d and 2s 3d; foreign coal, Is 9d and 2s 3d; N.Z. coal, Is and 2s l£d; the latter rates being 3d increase on manure and foreign coal for men working in the hold only and 1-Jd on New Zealand coal. The award, however, contained too many conditions to satisfy the men, and it was unanimously rejected. The employers then asked the men to draw up a provisional agreement to last until the rates were settled by a Dominion conference to be held in Wellington in January. The men agreed to this, provided the following terms were accepted:—For all.classes of work: Ordinary time Is 9dj overtime, 2s 7|d. These proposals were rejected, hence the stoppage of work. On 12th inst. the railway storemen and shunters were told off to work the s.s. Anerley, laden with 800,000 feet of Oregon timber. The railway officials were spoken to, but in spite of protests against scabbing and the offer of co-operation from the Union , they remained at work till 5 p.m. The ship's officers offered to pay the rates asked by the men, who refused to accept them until their demands were conceded all round.