LOADING DELAYED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 4

LOADING DELAYED

WELLINGTON WHARVES STOP-WORK MEETINGS OBJECTION TO OUTSIDE MEN (PA.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. Serious trouble occurred on the Wellington waterfront to-day. It appears that, owing to the introduction of outside labour by the Government to facilitate the rapid handling of the work of the port, the local waterside workers held a stop-work meeting this morning to discuss the position and then started work at 8.30 a.m., carrying on until the luncheon adjournment. At 1 o'clock this afternoon, however, when they were due to resume, the waterside workers, it is refused to work, and, it is stated, gave the waterfront commissioners an hour in which to reach a decision on the matter.

When inquiries regarding the dispute were made in Government circles it was stated that the Minister of Labour, Mr P C Webb, was still in Auckland, and the matter had been referred to the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser. Late this afternoon Mr Fraser said he had been advised of the matter, but in the absence of a report from the Waterfront Control Commissioners he was unable to comment on the position. It is stated authoritatively that the first meeting was held to consider the position which had arisen through the Waterfront Control Commission bringing members of local branches of other ports to increase the labour available to work the port. The meeting concluded somewhere about 8.20 a.m., and the first boat was commenced, it is understood, about 8.30. Some were delayed longer. At 1 p.m. to-day the men again did not resume work and held a further meeting to discuss the position, not only about the introduction of new labour without, it is understood, the commission consulting the local union, but also, it is understood, to discuss a further complaint as to the allocation of the working of special cargoes which carry an increased rate. Work on the waterfront was held up for four hours, and it was agreed to resume at 6 p.m. and also to seek an interview with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb being absent in Auckland. Representations in matters in dispute were heard to-night by the Prime Minister from deputations representing the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union headed by Mr E. E. Canham, and from the Waterfront Control Commission, which was represented by the executive officers, the commissioners being absent from Wellington.