COVENT GARDEN DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1924, Page 5

COVENT GARDEN DISPUTE

FRUIT FROM NEW ZEALAND

One asp.ct of the recent Covent Garden porters’ strike is of peculiar interest to fruitgrowing in New Zealand. The brokers held out solidly, and eventually the porters returned. It is estimated that had the porters obtained what they asked .for it Would have cost the New Zealand producers 3d a case more in the handling of their , apples. In other words, they would haVe received about £2500 less than they 'actually did receive for the season’s shipments. As, the fruit was fiold on a commission 'basis, any extra charges for handling would necessarily have been passed on to the producers. ' . 1

Covent Garden, porters receive from £4 to £8 per week, though in some weeks they may not do quite so well. The Transport Union, of which the porters axe a branch, demanded minimum. wages of £4 10s a week, whether there was any work or not, and no limit to the amount they earned when the week was a rushed one. The brokers resisted and refused to negotiate. In the meantime a new system of dis-i tribution was introduced. Instead of concentrating all the English produce at Covent Garden, first of all, they made arrangements for the producers to send their produce direct to the buyers, the lorries being supplied by the brokers. When the 2000 porters eventually came back, they found that there was not enough work to go round, as the new method of distribution has been continued, anj is proving satisfactory. The. adoption of the new plan means practically that Covent Garden market is left- very largely for the imported produce, and the congestion has been greatly relieved. This may have a considerable bearing on charges in respect to the handling of overseas produce. At all events ,there is not likely to be another strike among the porters for a. Jong time to come.