WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16694, 28 March 1922, Page 8

WATERSIDE DISPUTE

RESTRICTION OF OUTPUT. STATEMENTS RESENTED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Alarch 28. At the Arbitration Court the hearing of the watersiders’ dispute was continued to-day. Captain Walton, wharf superintendent for the Union Company, gave reasons for supporting the proposal to work overtime at night. He described the excessive waste of time caused Vav meetings. The employers were not consulted, and half of the men did not attend. The decision as to the restriction of the output of coal cargoes was the result of a resolution passed by the union. Cross-examined by Air Roberts, witness said there were clear indications of an organised attempt to restrict the output. The union took good care that he did not get any evidence. They had stopped the go-slow tactics at Lyttelton- They could not make up stopwork losses by working overtime. The general body of watersiders would work overtime if they had the opportunityAir Roberts: Who stops them? Witness: I suppose the union. Now you know that’s my opinion. Mr Roberts: T am only a layman in these matters. His Honor said it was only Captain Walton's opinion. Air Roberts: As Jong as that is all we are satisfied. Captain Walton said he did not know that Mr Bruce had asked the union to work after 10 p.m. What Mr Bruce would say on the stand and off tiie stand -were two different things. That was his opinion. He had no evidence to give. Tn reply to Air Smith, witnes said there were 1400 to 1700 men working generally on the wharf at the present time. He did not know how many were required for the whole of the wharves. It would not be 2000 in normal times.