LABOUR TROUBLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES

WATERSIDE WORKERS RESTEBR& x FRICTION AT WELLINGTON". (Peb United Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, January 30. Conditions on the waterfront aro reported to be becoming more unsatisfactory. This morning , men did not present themselves for engagement at 7.45. It is understood that they desire an alteration of the hours from 8 to 9 o'clock. Men wero afterwards * picked up for boats which arrived later. A call was made for labour to work the Home steamers, tha gangs from which vrero dis- " missed yesterday, but none were obtained. The. American steamer Edward Luckenbach, with a cargo of kerosene, also experienced trouble, a dispute arising as to the rate of pay, the men claiming that she was an oil steamer, and that they wero entitled to 2a an hour instead of Is lOd, The employers disagreed, and work was stopped. Later the employers found that tho vessel was an oil steamer under the agreement, and a gang was engaged at the terms demanded. Imperial meat was going aboard one vessel at much below tho usual rate, and tho result was that many hundred carcases were not disposed of • to-day, and it will bo im- % possible to discharge- them from the trucke ' till to-morrow.