WATERFRONT DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 8

WATERFRONT DISPUTE.

THE STEAMER, ROTORUA. THE MEM RESUME WORK. NO INCREASE IN PAY. "ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE." [BY TELEGRA PH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELL I NGTO.W Friday. The waterside workers responded to a call for labour to work the steamer Roto* rtia this morning, and work on the ship was resumed. The employers also called for labour to work all other vessels in port, and there was a good response. The majority of the, men who were approached refused to say anything about tho position. One man said he had had three days' work in the past fortnight, "That, is no good to me," he said. He claimed that tiie. men had gone hack to work at an increased rate. This rumour was current along the waterfront, but it was officially announced through the Waterside Employers' Association that the men had resumed at the, old rate. "The, men went back to work on their own initiative, just as they pleased themselves about refusing work," said an official of. the Walersiders' Union. THE MA KAMA DELAYED. STOKEHOLD CREW LEAVES. CREW ALSO GIVE NOTICE. SEQUEL TO MOERAKI INCIDENT. [nv TELEGRAPH.-- OWN" rortItEHPONDENT. "| WELLINGTON. Friday. 'I he Union I 'ompany's intercolonial steamer Marama, which was to have sailed from Wellington today for Sydney with a large number of passengers, is held tip on account of the action of members of the stokehold crew in leaving the vessel. Firemen, trimmers and greasers employed on the vessel gave notice at. 10.20 o'clock yesterday morning of their intention to lease the Marama, and this notice expired tins morning. The Marama Was to have sailed at 11 o'clock, but at. that hour the ship was minus the services of a stokehold crow, and the Union t'omparty had no option but to postpone her departure. Passengers expressed considerable disappointment this morning when it, was announced that it would be impossible to get. the Marama away on time. The trouble arose from the fact that the members of the non-union crew which brought the Moeraki from Melbourne were being taken back to Australia by the Marama. 1* or this reason the members of the Marama's crew claim that they are justified in refusing to work 1 tic* vessel. The firemen gave notice at 10.20 o'clock yesterday morning, and the seamen followed suit at 11.30. In the latter case the master of the Marama refused to accept notice, as the seamen's action did not comply with the rule which states that anybody wishing to leave must give at least. 24 hours' notice. However, now that the Marama's departure has been delayed it is possible that the notice by the seamen will have to be accepted. it is stated that the Union Company will probably man the Marama with the men who brought the Moeraki across, but, this would probably mean that the vessel would have to make the trip shorthanded. as the Marama requires more men, both below and above deck, than the Moeraki. The Marama carries a stokehold crew of 39, and it is understood that the Moeraki on her last trip carried only 21 in her engineroom. A member of the Marama's crew said that before leaving the ship this morning the firemen turned to and left the Marama with a full head of steam on. "We have played fair with the company in that respect, ' lie said. Officials of the Union Company and the Seamen's Union declined to comment on the. position to day. It was announced this afternoon that the departure of the Marama, has been postponed until noon to-morrow. The crew left, the ship at 5 p.m. The manager of the Union Company, Mr. D. A. Aitken, stated this evening that he had little information to impart. The company hoped to despatch the Marama tomorrow. Ihe best was being done under the circumstances. POSITION AT DUN EDI N. MO WORK ON MOERAKI. CALL FOR LABOUR IGNORED. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNE DIN. Friday. The Union Company's steamer Moeraki is still being regarded as "black by the Du tied in waterside workers and the position consequently remains unchanged. Owing to the rain no call was made for labour to work the Moeraki at 7.45 a.m., but ft call was made at 9.40. 'I here was in response. The heavy continuous rain in the morning interfered with loading operations on the Holmdale. When the rain ceased at 9.30 o'clock the gangs engaged on Thurs dav again set to and the last of the cargo was shipper! by midday. The Holmdale then sailed. The men who completed operations oil the vessel did not remain about the wharves, but wended their way toward the city and their homes. Two gangs of between .30 and 40 men were engaged to work the Port Denisoti at- Port Chalmers. Mr. S. K. Sleigh, local manager for the Union Company, stated to day that there were no fresh developments so far a.s the Moeraki was concerned. He intimated that another call would be made for labour at 7.45 a.m. to-morrow.