TROUBLE ON WATERFRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18951, 24 February 1925, Page 8

TROUBLE ON WATERFRONT.

' • , . •. '■ S| $ FRESH DEADLOCK OCCURS. NO WORK ON THE TAIRGA* MEN GIVE NO REASONS. << ONE GANG FOR COASTAL BOATS, [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] ;■ WELLINGTON. Monday. • The waterside trouble has broken out in a fresh place, the centre having shifted from the RotOrua to the liner Tairoa which arrived at Wellington from Liverpool, via Auckland, yesterday. When a ca.ll for labour to work the vessel was made at 7.45 o'clock this morning there was no response on the part, of the watersiders and the position was the same when a second call was made at 9,30 o'clock. The position was summed up this morning in a brief statement made by the secretary of the Waterside Employers* Association, Mr. W. H. G. Bennett, He said two calls were made this morning but there was no response on the part of the watersiders. Absolutely r.o reason was given by the men in explanation of their actions. "They simply don't want the job," he said. "The employes have considered the matter and at the present time are taking no action whatever. Further calls will be made." Some difficulty was also experienced in manning the coastal steamer Breeze, which was an arrival at Wellington yesterday from Lyttelton with a general cargo. Only one gang was engaged, no other labour offering for the vessel. A similar position has arisen on tha Storm, which is working with one gang. The employers held a meeting this morning to consider the position, but as indicated above decided to take no action at present. The opinion is held generally, however, that the employers will decide upon some course of action before very long unless, of course, the difficulty is overcome very quickly. Officials of the Waterside Workers* Union and the federation had no comment to make regarding the position. The secretary of the federation, Mr. J. Roberts, said he knew nothing about the matter. He did not even know that the Tairoa was held up. The secretary of the local union, Mr, . J. Johnson, said that a.ll he knew was that the Tairoa was held up. Beyond that he was not sure as to the position. The Tairoa has a geraeral cargo from Liverpool for discharge at Wellington and later she is to proceed to South Island ports to complete. Apart from the inconvenience caused by not being able to discharge, the holding up of the Tairoa in port even for a day or two is an expen- ; sive matter for the owners, as running expenses do not cease when the boat 13 idle. ' Further calls for labour at one o'clock this afternoon also failed to draw any response from the watersiders.