DUNEDIN WATERFRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19531, 14 July 1925, Page 3

DUNEDIN WATERFRONT.

NO COAL LABOUR FOR KAWATIRI TIMBER CARGO DISCHARGED. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY OBSERVED. Although there were no outward signs of any friction between the shipping employers and the waterside workers yesterday, there were indications that there was a little trouble below the surface —trouble which the average person knows little about. All the steamers in port were worked without any hitch with the exception of the Union Company’s collier Kawatiri, lying at the Birch street wharf with a cargo of Newcastle coal under hatches. It cannot be said that the Kawatiri has been exactly idle since her arrival here on Thursday morning last, as a small number of waterside workers was engaged to discharge a quantity of hardwood poles carried on the collier’s decks. These men were engaged under the term “general cargo,” and when they have landed the last pole their engagement will be fulfilled. These men were transferred to another Union Company steamer yesterday morning, but were sent back to the Kawatiri in the afternoon. The position in regard to the Kawatiri cannot yet be termed a hold-up. The port has been exceptionally busy during the past week, and v the waterside workers have simply avoided the collier, so to speak. There was a general shortage of labour on several days last week, and this fact no doubt had some bearing in regard to the failure of the company’s representative to engage “coal diggers” for the Kawatiri. It is stated, however, that the waterside workers will not accept engagement for the Kawatiri until they have been assured of an extra rate. It is said that the extra rate asked for is 2d per hour. Be that as It may, there is no mistaking the fact that no labour was offering for the Kawatiri when a call was made at 12,45 p.m. yesterday. The Dunedin waterside workers, so it is stated, have decided not to work on Saturday afternoons in future, thus bringing the port into line with Lyttelton. This would appear to the general public as though the men have plenty of funds, in spite of the fact that they complain day after day and week ..after week that they cannot earn a living wage. Only a week or two ago the great majority of the men were forced into idleness for days owing to the port being practically bare of shipping. Their present attitude in regard to Saturday afternoon work, therefore, has brought forth most unfavourable comment In many quarters. As a result of their Saturday half-holiday decision, n case in point is cited by shipping employers. The Katoa loaded at Dunedin on Friday and Saturday for Wellington and Auckland. At noon on Saturday the waterside workers engaged to work the ship could have completed their task inside three hours. The Union Company, however, was notified that the- men would cease operations at noon. This resulted in the Katoa being detained in port until 1 p.m. yesterday—a loss of two days on iior run up the coast. The men also suffered a loss to some extent, as had they worked on Saturday afternoon they would have received, under the award, 3s 4d per hour.