WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16364, 11 June 1927, Page 4

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

PORT AUCKLAND TO DEPART FREIGHT RETURNED TO STORES All hope of a settlement being reached in the Gisborne waterside dispute in tinio. to complete the loading of the s.B. Port Auckland has been abandoned and arrangements are being made for her immediate despatch. This decision was announced this morning, after a call made at 8 ? o'clock met with no success. A call was also made at *1 p.m. yesterday, but with the same result. A lengthy meeting of the Disputes Committee was held last night. It was fully attended hy both parties, who had been in receipt of advice from headquarters at Wellington, The constitution of the committee js - three representatives of the employers and three representatives of the Waterside Workers' Union, with a' chairmansecretary, who has no. voting power. The committee -could eome to no agreement, and the dispute, the exact nature pf which is j not yet disclosed,, fWas referred to the National Disputes Committee. . . BACK INTO. STORE. After the refusal of the men to accept engagement at 8 /a.m. t to-day, •the Gisborne agents of the srup r received instructions from. headquarters an to. .despatch her immediately to Wellington; ~.~" ; t In.the meantime, the'loaded-barges, which had-been. ly'injr/at-ane'.jWfar'fside'. Teady to'be sent out to the ship, "are being unloaded again, the meat, butter, wool and tallow being put back again into store. This means that the Port Auckland is taking only a, very small portion of 'Gisborne freight. When this morning's call was made, there was a large number of men prosent. The men, it is said, hold' a conference at about 8 a.m... . ORIGIN OF DISPUTE. Another version of the origin of the trouble comes indirectly from the men. It is stated that on Tuesday when 5 p.m. approached, the stevedore told one gang thoy would be required to work ton until they completed the loading from one. of the barges. According to the story, one of the men refused to do this and said he was going to have his tea first. This he did. T£e others worked on until they completed the jvib and then they had tef*. Immediately the meal was completed the stevedore ordered the men back to the wharf. It was explained to him that, the gang had not replaced hatches, but the stevedore told then? not to do this. The gang was accordingly returned to the wharf, which was reached at 5.55 p.m. The men claim that they are entitled to paymont for an extra two hours after 6 p.m. Another fact, which it is said is engaging the attention of the water- . aiders, is that Nelson (N.Z.), Ltd> launch Hipi is fitted up to carry hotmore than 16 men. At times it would disorganise work considerably to adhere strictly to this, and frequently it is stated, the launch has travelled between the wharf and the ship with 50 and O'O men aboard, both the union officials and the employers closing their eyes to this fact. , It is rumored that the men now, intend to object to the continuance of the launch taking more than one gang, 16 men.