SHIPS HELD UP

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 7

SHIPS HELD UP

FERRY STEAMER UNLOADED NO OVERTIME WORKED ON LYTTELTON WATERFRONT. CARGO WILL RE OVERCARRIED. (Special to “N.Z. Times.”) CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. In connection i?:th the trouble on the waterfront, which a few optimistjo people believed had come to an end, i, new development is to be recorded. No overtime was worked on the Lyttelton waterfront .ast night, the watersiders having refused to accept overtime when expected to come back. This morning the Union Steam Ship Company obtained: all the waterside labour required for the Wingatui, which lay idle all day yesterday owing to the scarcity of labour. On the Railway Department being requested to supply casual railway workers, it could not do so, as there were none available. The difficulty was partly overcome by the Union Steam Ship Company transferring to the railway part of their gangs, and the vessel started work short-handed. THE FERRY STEAMER. A fresh obstacle was encountered this morning by the Union Steam Ship. Company concerning overtime on the ferry boat, the watersiders haying, dey cided not to work any overtime this afternoon, and the Union Steam Ship Company decided' to work the vessel with the aid of the permanent staff and requested the Railway Department to supply some of their permanent hands The company was informed that permanent hands could not he supplied to work overtime this afternoon. The refusal came as a shock, as the Railway Department has supplied permanent hands for several years past when requested by the Union Steam Ship Company. The result will he that the ferry steamer will have to overcarry fully 100 tons of urgent cargo, including newsprint from the Tahiti, and will not he able to load any produce or general cargo for Wellington to-day. The overcarried cargo will have to remain on the vessel till Tuesday. VESSELS DELAYED. The watersiders refused overtime on all vessels in port that require to bo worked this afternoon. Through this refusal several -vessels will ,bo delayed. The Lepanto, for instanoe, would have left this evening for Timaru. The Canopus will now pot he able to leave for Westport until Monday afternoon. The Remuera was to have sailed on Tuesday for Napier. She is now timed to leave on Wednesday ,or perhaps Thursday. The Wingatui will not get away for Dunedin until Tuesday. There was an acute shortage of railway trucks for the reception of the Waitomo’s coal to-day, and consequently the Union -Steam Ship Company was unable to make use of its coal discharge plant, although three gangs were engaged in unloading the coal. The Matakana arrived this morning from Wellington with Liverpool cargo for discharge. Owing to the shortage of casual workers, only one gang could be obtained, and (he vessel was, therefore, worked short-handed.