TROUBLE AT LYTTELTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2125, 6 December 1920, Page 8

TROUBLE AT LYTTELTON.

UNLOADING BALLAST COAL. WATERSIDERS REFUSE WORK. A meeting of the Local Disputes Com.mittee called at Lyttelton this morlßng 'to settle a dispute over the unloading Jof coal cargo from the steamer Ngatoro refused to adjudicate unless the watersiders immediately resumed work. This they declined to do, and the vessel is now lying idle. The dispute was caused through a demand by the men that they be paid !2d per hour extra for unloading coal |used as ballast. The usual rate for unloading coal is 2/4 per hour, and Cd | iper hour over and above that for un-1 iloading coal that has been used as bal- 1 jlast. The extra rate is paid because of j 'the solidity of tho coal, which is trampled down by livo stock, and is also | 'extremely unpleasant to handle. The j jNgatoro has made three trips live stock with the coal in the hold — l !two cargoes of sheep and one of cattle.' I She returned to Lyttelton yesterday j I from Titirangi, via Pigeon liay, with 205_head of cattle. Tho three trips! caused the coal to become exceedingly ] hard and the stench in the hold is bad. I For these reasons, when the required number of hands was called for this morning, to discharge tho 350 tons of I ballast coal, the men declined to start I unless granted 3/- per hour, 2d more I than the sum specified for this class of work. .^ A meeting of the Local Dispiites Committee was called to consider the matter, but, following tho procedure adopted at Wellington, refused to adjudicate except on the understanding that the men would commence work beforehand. The men would not agree to this proposal, however, with the result that no work was clone on the vessel during the morning. It is extremely improbable that she will be worked this afternoon.