THE BOYCOTT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26849, 13 August 1948, Page 4

THE BOYCOTT

OVER MONTH'S DURATION IMPASSE AT PORT CHALMERS The “ beer boycott ” at Port Chalmers has now lasted 44} days. Only on six of them have the members of the Port Chalmers branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union not been obliged to turn resolutely away from the publicans’ doors. They were Sundays. The bars were closed.

The watersiders began their boycott at mid-day on June 28 because the oldestablished custom of “shouting” for patrons after two or three drinks was abolished. Since then, according to the secretary of the union, Mr J. Bain, they have shown 100 per cent., solidarity in their attitude towards frequenting the hotels at Port Chalmers and the one at Carey’s Bay. , If they want a drink, they come to Dunedin. Similarly, the hotels at the port remain united on their decision to abide by the decision of the Dunedin Licensed Victuallers’ Association to discontinue the practice of treating their customers. It is reported, however, that there has been a considerable increase in the number of empty beer bottles which are now being collected from Port Chalmers.

A development which arose in the meantime has been carried little further. This was the action of the barmen’s section of the Otago Hotel Workers’ Union to warn the licensees of hotels in the city which continued to “shout" that their barmen would be directed to leave their employment. The Daily Times was told last week that the personnel of a combined deputation from the union and the Licensed Victuallers’ Association which was to visit the four “ shouting” hotels in the city to discourage treating had now been completed with the appointment of the employers’ representatives. So far, however, the deputation has not visited these hotels, a proprietor of one said yesterday. These hotels are still treating their “ regulars.”