NO PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 10

NO PROGRESS

CONGESTION GROWS MEN TO MEET TO-DAY DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED WANGANELLA NOT WORKED The deadlock on the Auckland waterfront continues/and unless a solution is found this morning, which will begin the eighth day of the dispute, seven overseas ships and a large number of smaller vessels will be idle.

.There was 110 meeting of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union yesterday morning, but in the late afternoon officials of the union waited as a deputation on the Shipping and Stevedores' Association, which was holding a routine meeting. After the conclusion of the meeting the chairman of the association," Captain It. S. Lewis, stated that the employers had not altered their stand, which was that the workers should resume employment in tlie terms of the award 011 the Union Company's cargo ships Waiana and Kaimiro before further labour was engaged. Origin of Dispute

The dispute arose last Thursday. On that day unionists refused to handle cargo on tho Waiana and Kaiiniro unless claims regarding starting time and wages were settled. An announcement made yesterday by tho Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, endorsing a recommendation of the Dominion executive of the Waterside Workers' Union that tho men should return to work should play unimportant part in discussion at a meeting of the union this morning. The men have been steadfast in their attitude that they are ready and willing to work all ships excepting the Waiana and Kaimiro, but the Minister's pronouncement may result in the barrier being removed.

More Ships Involved With many sections anxiously watching -the situation, which has not been altered for a week, the decision reached by this morning's meeting will be the most important made since the deadlock began. If no settlement can be found to-day more than 90,000 tons gross of shipping will be idle in the port. Pending the resumption of work the overseas ships Arawa and City of Lyons, which will arrive early this afternoon, will remain at anchor in the stream.

The motor-liner Wanganella, which arrived yesterday morning from Melbourne and Sydney, lay idle during the day, a serious aspect being given her position by the presence of a shipment of 11,000 cases of oranges. The liner is, in the meantime, announced to leave for Sydney to-morrow afternoon and any instructions for a delay in her departure will be made from the Melbourne office of the Huddart Parker Company. The Rangitiki Diverted As a result of the dispute the liner Rangitiki has been diverted to Auckland for litfr final port of loading, instead of Napier. She will now arrive about Monday instead of to-morrow, but her sailing date from this port for London has not yet been announced. The Westport Coal Company's collier Canopus, which arrived overnight from Westport, was able to begin discharging yesterday morning, as a considerable proportion of the coal could be hanjlled by cranes and grabs. In order to allow the discharge of dairy produce from non-refrigerated coastal vessels, the Waterside Workers' Union has raised no objection to the working of the Northern Company's fleet by the company's staff. This, however, is not a large body of men and considerable delays have resulted to the movements of the ships. The motortanker G. S. Walden, which arrived yesterday afternoon from Sumatra, was working, as pumping equipment handled her petrol cargo.

Even if work is resumed to-day it is unlikely that many of the affected ships will be able to clear port by the weekend. As nine overseas vessels will arrive by Monday serious congestion is inevitable. In addition, a shortage cf labour will also result, as the full strength of the union, even when assisted by nonunion workers, will be insufficient to man all the ships. . )

EFFECTS OF DELAY IMPOKTERS SUFFER 1 DETERIORATION RISK TAINT FROM OTHER CARGO The , effect upon third parties of a continued delay to the unloading of cargo on tho Auckland waterfront because of labour disputes was described yesterday by Mr. E. 0. Faber, a city importer. Stating that his own case was only one of many, Mr. •Faber said he was facing a serious position, because ho had about £6OOO worth of tea held up in the Wanganella and the Kaimiro. •,

Of this amount, about £SOOO worth ■was in the Wariganella, and ho was afraid it would sufTor deterioration by tainting'from a large consignment of oranges which was also carried in the vessol unless \unloading. was effected im"inediatoly. . Mr. Faber said lio had previous experience of a cargo,of tea being tainted by oranges which had not been unloaded in time to prevent their ■penetrating other holds. The danger would be increased, lie said, if the ship had to return to Sydney without unloading. Other perishable cargo, apart from tea, would then be seriously affected.

"Tho small importers," said. Mr. Faber, "aro in an unenviable position, as the practice of oversea firms is to draw for goods against documents. These , importers in their - turn, however, cannot secure payment from their clients until delivery is effected. The speedy delivery of documents by airmail makos it imperative that thefe should bo no' undue delay in arrival and delivery of tho goods."

, Since ' the inauguration of tho airmail service, the. position had become moro acute through mail steamers strictly limiting their cargo to an amount that, at the present rate of discharge at Auckland,, could be unloaded in the limited time allowed by the mail and passenger, schedule.