WATERSIDE UNREST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 8

WATERSIDE UNREST.

TROUBLE AT LYTTELTON. ROTORUA'S MEAT SHIPMENT. HANDLING OF NEWCASTLE COAL. (EX ITELKGEAPH. —OWN COBJUSSFOKDENT. j CHRISTCHT3RCH. Monday. As was generally anticipated, there was no response when the foreman of tfio New Zealand Shipping Company made it cit.ll at 8 o'clock this morning for tmn to load meat and butter into the liner Rotorna. The men who declined had no objection, however, to accept engagement for the loading of cheese, and » gang was secured for that work. A gang which bad been loading wool, tallow and hides on Saturday, also . resumed this morning, and the vessel is tlias working with two gangs instead of four. A small consignment, of the 12,000 carcases of mutton which were to have been shipped was on the wharf, but the company bad taken the precaution of not ordering a largo quantity of meat from the freezing works Another call msde for labour to handk meat at 11 a.m. was again witrieut result, The meat was returned to the. freezing works. The Rotorua is set down for sailing for Wellington on Wednesday. It has not yet been decided whether the vessel, allot finishing the loading of the commodities not in dispute, will be despatched. Trouble has also arisen with regard tc the trimming of coal. The Union Steam Ship Company's foreman applied on Saturday for a few men to do trimming at the Kaikorai. which was discharging Newcastle coal by use of a grab. The, men refused to undertake the -work unless they were allowed an increase of Id an hour for the discharge of Newcastle coal. A similar demand Was made recently in connection with the trimming of the Waikawa, another of the Union Company's vessels, and the matter, after being considered by the Lyttelton Disputes Committee. was referred to the National Disputes Committee at Wellington. A reply has not yet been received. A meeting of the Lyttelton Disputes Committee was held between 11.30 ana noon today, when the demand by the men for extra remuneration for the loading of meat was again fully discussed, and also the question of the refusal of the men to trim the Kaikorai's coal. Both matters were referred to the National Disputes Committee. In the meantime the Union Company intends to discharge by the usual method of shovel and basket, and will continue paying the standard rate of 2s 4id an I win for Newcastle coal.