LOADING DELAYED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20928, 6 January 1938, Page 6

LOADING DELAYED

BRIEF LABOUR DISPUTE By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, January 5 There was some delay to-day in the commencement of work on the Hamburg-Amerika steamer Naumberg which arrived at Port Chalmers early this morning to load a quantity of wool for New York. The situation resulted from the refusal of the Port Chalmers Waterside Workers’ Union to allow non-union labour to be utilised, and it was not until the middle of the afternoon that the dispute was settled

and the work of loading the vessel was commenced. As a result of the unusual amount

of shipping in port following the New Year holidays there has, during the last two days, been insufficient labour to cope with the work offering. For some time past an arrangement has existed at Dunedin by, which, when such a situation arises, the State Placement Service is requested by the shipping agent concerned to provide non-union labour. The secretary of the union is advised and with his concurrence outside labour is used. This was the case to-day. No union labour was available at Port Chalmers when the call was made for gangs to work the Naumburg, and the State Placement Officer was called upon for Labour. Sixty-five men were obtained and were sent by the 9 o’clock train to Port Chalmers, but the necessity for advising the secretary of the union there was overlooked, with a result that when the Dunedin men arrived permission for them to start work was not forthcoming. It was claimed that the necessary two gangs could be found among the unemployed of the Port Chalmers district, but as that number of men is still being called for the claim has not been substantiated. Conferences between the parties took place during the day, and eventually it was arranged that the labour provided from Dunedin should be accepted and work was commenced on the vessel during the afternoon. Dunedin is the only centre in the Dominion where an arrangement for extra waterfront labour exists with the State Placement Service, and it is stated that the arrangement has been working to the satisfaction of all concerned for some time.