PREFERENCE FOR RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 5

PREFERENCE FOR RUGBY

DUNEDIN WHARF HANDS SATURDAY HALF-DAY RANFURLY SHIELD GAMES (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Preference on the paid of local waterside workers for attending the Ranftnly Shield Rugby matches during the past, few weeks to working vessels in the port on the occasions of these fixtures has had the effect in some instances of causing considerable inconvenience to shippers and disorganising the coastal timetables, and incidentally costing various shipping companies a considerable sum in harbour dues which would not otherwise have been the case.

The position last Saturday was that no fewer than three vessels were delayed. These were the overseas ships Ashburton and Narbada, and the coastal steamer Wainui. In the case of the last-mentioned vessel, it would have been possible to dispatch her for the Bluff on Saturday evening, and she would then have called here again today on the northern voyage. Instead, it has been necessary to delay the Wainui’s departure until to-day, when she is to sail for the Bluff, and will proceed later direct from that port to Oamahr,' omitting Dunedin entirely. On the day of the test Rugby match between Australia and New Zealand at Dunedin, the Waikouaiti and Hertford were affected, and on the following Saturday, when the match against Wellington was the attraction, the Wingatui was- prevented - from sailing over the week-end.

Other ships which have been delayed for the sarpe reason since the beginning of August, when the Ranfurly Shield series commenced, were many and included the steamer Canadian Conqueror, the O.S.K. motor-ship Brisbane Maru. and the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Rangitata. Shippers who have been inconvenienced as the result of the failure of the waterside workers to accept calls for Saturday afternoon work claim that a breach of the award is involved, and express inability to understand the altitude of workers who refuse employment even at the high rates of overtime paid for Saturday afternoon work