SHIPPING AT LYTTELTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 5

SHIPPING AT LYTTELTON.

TEMPORARY SLACKNESS. (Pkh United Peess Association.) CHRISTCHUBCH, October 29. ( In common with most ports of the Dominion Lyttclton is experiencing a very slack time just now in the shipping business. Beyond the time-table passenger, and coastal cargo boats and a stray collier, and an oversea, vessel or two, the cargo-handling business Ims been at a low ebb this week, and the waterside workers are/feeling the depression somewhat, keenly. There are approximately 4CO members of the LjjUollon Stevedores' Union, and a Press reporter was informed that the total amount of wages earned by them during the week ended, yesterday in work- on the wharves was only about £400. There is always a slackness in the cargo-handling business at this time of the -year, and this year it. certainly no exception to the rule. A number of big cargo steamers have been lying idle for weeks, but, as one shipping man remarked, the slackness this month is the "calm before the storm," and when the wool and other products commence to come forward next month there will doubtless be busy times on the wharves. The end of this week should prove a fairly good time for the Lyttclton waterside'workers, as four or five oversea cargo boats and several colliers and coastal cargo boats are due to arrive during the next few days.