CALL UNANSWERED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26353, 7 January 1947, Page 4

CALL UNANSWERED

SITUATION AT DUNEDIN NO WORK LAST NIGHT No work was done on the Dunedin waterfront last night. The company concerned with operations on the Kauri and the Karetu called for labour at 6 p.m., but at that hour the wharves were almost deserted. The Union Steam Ship Company requested that the men return to work on the Kauri and the Karetu after tea, but the company received no definite reply. When approached by a Daily Times reporter yesterday afternoon, the secretary of the Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr S. B. Macdonald, had no comment to make on the position created by the Prime Minister’s and told the reporter that his union was “just standing by.” The only other ship at Dunedin just now is the Fort Coulonge which moved to Ravensbourne on Friday to continue discharge of her cargo of phosphate. It is understood that the agents, H. L. Tapley and Co., wished the ship to be worked last night, but during the afternoon work was stopped because of the wind. There was also an interruption in the morning on account of some faulty gear on the ship. Since last winter, when there were negotiations between the shipping companies and the men engaged in unloading phosphate, no work has been done at Ravensbourne after 5 p.m. Up to the present this arrangement has been unchanged. Yesterday, 20 hours’ work remained to be done on the Karetu before she sails for Sydney, via New Zealand ports, and if no labour is available at nights, she will not complete until 5 p.m. tomorrow at the earliest. Owing to the weather, little work was done yesterday morning. The Kauri, which is unloading genera] cargo, may sail to-day. Another phosphate ship, the Fort Dease Lake, is expected at Port Chalmers today from Makatea. Six overseas, two intercolonial, and four coastal ships are expected this month, either at Dunedin or Port Chalmers.