CUSTOM ON WATERFRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23326, 19 October 1937, Page 8

CUSTOM ON WATERFRONT

TIME OFF TO ATTEND FUNERALS DEATHS OF FELLOW WORKERS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. Mr H. Johnson, secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, when interviewed to-day, said that for many years it had been the custom that, if a waterside worker was fatally injured while engaged in working a ship, his fellow-workers should be given the opportunity of attending his funeral. There was nothing about it in the agreement, but it was one of those things that had always been done. The last case, he believed, was when a man was killed on the wharf about four years ago. In addition, it had to be remembered that on Saturday afternoons, when most people had a holiday, there was less work on the wharf than on week days. Vessels were delayed in Wellington on Saturday afternoon by the decision of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union to refuse to wotk the ships in* port. The reason given was that they wished to attend the funeral of a waterside worker who was accidentally killed while engaged in working on the Karamea. The loss of five hours, it. was stated, would result in considerable congestion early next wfeek;