NO CALL FOR LABOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12076, 2 March 1925, Page 7

NO CALL FOR LABOUR

. WATERBIDERB*SURPRISED NEW POSITION ARISES. IMPORTANT MEETING TO-DAY. ' A large crowd of watersiders collected about the various stands on Saturday morning awaiting the usual calls for labour, but no such calls were inade. , The decision of the employers' not to call for labour caine as a surprise to the men, but they- made little comment on the new position which had arisen, and gradually dispersed. f The tone of the conversation among tiie- watersiders was one of ..surprise, and it’ was evident from the_ remarks passed that the employers’ decision was not expected. Small groups-of watersiders coll acted about the wharves at intervals during the morning to discuss the position and —await developments, but when it was seen that no labour was wanted the groups broke up and dispersed, v ’ I A BUNDAY APPEARANCE NO VESSELS WORKING. The waterfront presented a deserted appearance on Saturday morning, the usual signs of bustle and activity being absent. None l of the .' .vessels jin part ' Were wortang ~e*de^t ,, i|hf>-..t|feir3fy; boat Wahiney • and T 'tbe'aftaigi ; activity was on the Queen’®vwlifttfi ' Aorangi waa pri^anhg^'f^ Apart from the. bustlp . ; Quean’s wharf the waterft®pt.j>4 l| o ro y® Sunday appearance ratheT. tkatitfAne interest of a working-day. ‘ V ■~. LITTLE INFORMATION UNION OFFICIALS RETICENT.^ Little information waa to be obtained from the waterside, union officials, who had little to say about the position. The explanation of the Wellington - -Union secretary,: Mr J. lohnson,- was that' apparently the employers . had suddenly decided not to work the ships on: Saturdays. Mr J. Roberts, secretary-‘of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, said it would appear that the employers were giving them a • five-day week. These •were the only explanations forthcoming from the men’s leadera on Saturday.: DECIBION CONFIRMED .BUT NO STATEMENT FROM 1 EMPLOYERS. No statement governing the. em- ' ployers’ decision or the reasons for it was made by Mr G. W. H. Bennett, secretary of the Watdrside Labour Employers’ Association. ’. Mr Bennett/merely confirmed the information that the, employers had decided not to' call for. labour, but other than this he had no statement to make ®n the subject.