WATERSIDE HOLD-UP.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13639, 25 August 1937, Page 5

WATERSIDE HOLD-UP.

AFFECT CHRISTCHURCH VESSELS. Electric Telegraoh—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night. Through a dispute between seamen and waterside workers as to the manning of the winches of the small ooastai vessel. Taupata at Lyttelton, another vessel, the Union Oteam Ship Company’s Waimaimo, was neld up to-day and she was sent away this evening with most of her Auckland cargo for Lyttelton .still in the holds. On the Taupata this morning the watersiders repeated their demand that watersiders should replace seamen at the winches. This was refused by the agents for the vessel, and the men* thereupon left for their homes, most of them travelling by the 9.21 a.m. train. The Taupata is still held up. The trouble on the Waimarino arose concerning the engagement of railway labour. Only sufficient union labour for one gang was secured when the railway watersiders from, the Taupata presented themselves for engagement, claiming preference to non-union labour then available. The officials of the Railway Department declined, to engage the men on the ground that they were still under engagement for the uncompleted job at the Taupata. No attempt was -made, however, to engage the non-union men.

On the Waimarino* only one gang was able to begin work, the remainder of ships’ watersiders, about 75 men. standing by for two and threequarter hours for which they will be paid until dismissed. The whole - dispute has been referred by the shipping companies to the* Shipowners’ Federation at Wellington. DELAYS AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. Last. Night. Owing to delays to cargo work through intermittent rain the Niagara. was unable to sail from Auckland to-night for Svdney. The Niagara. will sail to-morrow afternoon. Rough weather was experienced during the day, and rain caused the post|>oncmeiit of the departures of two coastal ships. For the first time since August 7 the barometer pressure fell below 30.00 inches to-night.