WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 20 December 1911, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE AT

TIMARU

DAMAGES FOR DETENTION

(Per Press Association.)

Timaru, December 19. When the waterside workers struck last week they were followed by the railway casuals, who receive the .cargo in trucks. The permanent railway hands were sent to take the places of the latter in discharging the s.s. Annerley. The permanent hands protested against having to receive cargo from a Chinese crew, and asked Mr Craigie, the Mayor, to wire the Premier, and he did so. They wired to the Minister of Railways and the Railway Servants Executive. Iho result of the wire to the Premier was an order that the permanent railway men were not to receive cargo from a Chinese crew. Consequently the ship was idle for a few days. Captain Mace has instructed his local solicitors to commence proceedings against the Railway Department for damages and detention of his vessel in consequence of the action oi tho Department. Captain Mace has also written direct to tho Premier, protesting against his action in interfering to prevent the Railway Department from doing its duty, as a common carrier, in discharging the ship, and also that no reply had been given to his telegram of the 12th asking that arrangements be made to continue the railway service in shipping a Chinese crew, and paying them European rates. He had broken no law, and “ho had yet to learn that New Zealand is governed, not by the law of the land, but by the ipse dixit of its Prime Minister.” As his owners had suffered loss and inconvenience he ■would seek from the Courts of the Dominion the justice which had been denied him by its Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

The Annerley is expected to leave for Melbourne with a part cargo of Oregon timber.

MEETING OF FEDERATION.

Wanganui, December 19. The quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation was held to-day in reference to paper-lined bags for lime and cement. It was resolved to grant an extension of six weeks from January, Ist, 1913, 'n order to allow the employers concerned to obtain a supply of the necessary bags. The following resolution, as the outcome of the Timaru strike, was carled : “That this Executive of Now Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation condemn the action ol thc_ Tima•n waterside workers in striking on December 12th without first consulting the executive of the Federation, vnd further that as the Timaru Union vnd the Lyttelton Union have refer--cd tlieii dispute solely to the Federation of Labour, this Federation repudiates any further responsibility so Far us those two unions are concerned.”