SHIPS IDLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 11

SHIPS IDLE

SERIOUS POSITION AT NAPIER MEDIATION not yet SUCCESSFUL By Telegraph —Pres? Association HASTINGS, March 10. Whether the Napier waterfront dispute will assume serious proportions will probably be decided to-morrow by the action of the men when the 8 a.m. call is made for labour. The dispute, which has seriously affected the export trade of the port during the last few days was submitted to a meeting of the National Disputes Committee today, but no agreement was reached and the discussions were continued during the evening. It is understood that the shipping agents are awaiting the result of the call for labour, and that if the men do not turn out a serious position may arise. No information could be obtained from the shipping agents to-night, but should the men decline to work to-morrow pending the hearing of the disputes, it is thought possible that they will be refused future engagement. The dispute arose from a difference of opinion between the men and the shipping agents about the payment of wages for Saturday, when men were called but did not work owing to wet weather. This cause of friction was not apparent until Tuesday afternoon when the men were paid and thus became aware of what they had been allowed for Saturday. When the pay was received shortly after the men came ashore, it was found that they had received wages for three hours at 5/9 and two hours at 3/9 for work on Saturday. They contended that they were entitled to £2/11/7 for each man up to 5 p.m. on that day, and declined to work until the extra money was forthcoming. This morning between 50 and 60 were offering but after boarding the labour lighter they came ashore again and declined to work. They also claimed that they should receive payment for Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. Between 8.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. the men were addressed by Mr G. Thomas, of Gisborne, a member of the New Zealand Executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union. It is understood that he urged the men to return to work under protest until the points at issue could be cleared up, and that the men agreed to adopt that course. However, none of the men worked to-day, with the exception of one gang which handled fruit. Questioned this afternoon, Mr A. Sheehan, secretary of the Napier branch of the Waterside Union, declined to make a statement about the dispute. "The matter is out of our hands now and being dealt with by headquarters, Wellington. Now that that course has been taken we have nothing for publication.” This afternoon Mr Bennett, Wellington Employers’ representative on the National Disputes Committee, arrived in Napier, and a meeting of the committee was held during the afternoon and evening. Mr Thomas and local officials represented the New Zealand Union on the committee. The Northumberland and Durham ai3 due to reach Napier to-morrow to load fruit, wool and frozen meat, but it is understood that unless the labour trouble ends to-morrow the Durham may be diverted.