DISLOCATION AT DOCKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18456, 20 July 1923, Page 9

DISLOCATION AT DOCKS.

EXTENSION OF ST^Me. MEAT PORTERS CEASE WORK. NO - LOADING: AT LIVERPOOL. (ATLANTIC LINERS HELD UP. POLICE REINFORCEMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association— (Received 8.80 p.m.) A. and N.Z. ' LONDON. July 18. Negotiations have begun between the Unofficial Dockers' Strike Committee and the Transport and General "Workers' Union in an endeavour to settle the strike of dockers, as its effects are being seriously felt in London. A deputation, of strikers which visited the Home Office was informed of the absolute necessity of expediting the clearance of perishable foodstuffs. All the coastal and cross-channel services have been suspended. The foreign fruit trade and the Covent Garden and the i meat trade at Smithfield are practically at a standstill. . Owing to intimidation of carmen by strikers it was found necessary to close the floral hall at Covent Garden, where imported fruit is sold. Already large quantities of Continental soft fruits have been rendered unfit for consumption duo to slow discharge at the London docks. Therefore thousands of packages are being discharged at Folkestone and despatched to London.

Govent Garden porters deny that there has been intimidation, but admit that when a man attempted to work to-day ho was stripped naked and sent home in a cab for his pains.

The porters at Smithlield, by 103 votes •to 66, decided to support the strike by remaining out of work, but many porters refrained from voting. Meanwhile shopkeepers, clerks, and salesmen at Smithfield are carrying meat.

There has been a serious extension of ♦he dock strike on tfe'o Merseyside. Several thousand men struck at Liverpool, and work of loading Atlantic liners and deep-sea cargo boat,; has been stopped.

The strikers induced 200 dockers on three vessels' to cease' work; '■ alleging that one vessel from Australia was diverted from Manchester. The owners state that they merely followed the usual custom ; when «. vessel bound to Manchester arrived too Sate they docked her at Liverpool. . V

As the Manchester dockers refuse to allow the unloading of fruit which is rotting in the docks the directors of the Ship Canal contemplate calling for free labour.

Extra police are being sent to the main flistributing centres. •.