WATERFRONT DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17708, 17 February 1921, Page 6

WATERFRONT DISPUTE.

POSITION STILL COMPLEX.

AUCKIAND MEN WORK OVERTIME

MORE TROUBLE AT WELLINGTON.

The position in regard to the waterfront somewhat complex. In Auckland the waterside workers all accepted overtime last evening and every ship in port was worked. .Among other steamers on which loading or unloading operations were carried out were the Omana, Otarama, Waiwera, Rimutaka and Talune.

Wellington was not so fortunate as Anckland. On Monday last, overtime was worked there, and on Tuesday, although the men knocked off early in order to attend the funeral of a fellow worker, it was thought that normal conditions would prevail last night. Our correspondent, however, reports that some of the watersiders refused to work after 5 p.m., comprising the majority of the men engaged in handling coal. Work stopped altogether on the steamers Karamu, Viking Star, and Wangaratta. Sections of the men who were employed on the steamers Maindy Lodge * and Anten also refused overtime. These ships and others will be delayed in consequence. The gangs engaged in handling ordinary cargo on the ships in Wellington remained at work where required, but it was reported last evening that their rate of operation was even slower than usual. They could not be stated to be working normally. Representatives of the shipowners conferred in Wellington yesterday, regarding the situation. A reporter was informed subsequently that they were not ready to make any announcement of intention. They were obtaining information from all the ports, and might be ready to issue a statement regarding the situation to-day. Overtime was worked at Lyttelton last night. At Dunedin the men held a stopwork meeting in the morning, but resumed operations afterwards as usual. NEW PLYMOUTH AFFECTED. NO OVERTIME YESTERDAY. [BY "TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. The. majority of the watersiders here refused to-day for the first time to work overtime after five o'clock. The men were not unanimous in their action, but no overtime was worked.