PORT WHARVES STILL IDLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17830, 26 April 1926, Page 5

PORT WHARVES STILL IDLE.

NO PROGRESS MADE IN SHIPPING DISPUTE. LYTTELTON’S MAYOR AIMS AT CONFERENCE. Again to-day there was a total lack of activity on the wharves at Lyttelton. There seemed, however, every likelihood of a conference being arranged between representatives of the Watersiders’ Union and the employers. This has been brought about by the action of Mr F. E. button. Mayor pf Lyttelton, who, acting in his mayoral capacity, has approached bolh sides in an endeavour to effect a settlement. . Mr Sutton on Friday last suggested that a conference should be arranged between the parties concerned to try to bring about a settlement of the dispute. The result was that there was a meeting of the workers’ executive on Saturday, and the executive announced its intention of being represented at a meeting to be presided over by Mr Sutton. The employers also decided to consider the matter. There is every possibility that a conference will be held in the Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers. At noon to-day Mr Sutton advised that he had not received a reply from the employers, and therefore the conference would not be held to-day.

It has been suggested that the men might be willing to woik a little, later in the week, from Monday to Friday, to make up for having Saturday off. In addition to this, it might be possible to arrange for the men to work on Saturday afternoons provided the ship could be finished off. Those, of course, are matters which will need to be discussed by both sides, it being assumed that the men get the jienny-halfpenny which is the crux of the dispute. “ I consider this is affecting the public to a large extent, and I consider it my duty as Mayor of the town to try to effect a settlement,” stated Mr Sutton to a *' Star ” reporter.

This morning the wharf front was well filled by men from Lyttelton and Christchurch, congregating mostly in the vicinity of the Coronation Hall. It is evident that the proceedings and action of the executive are not being divulged outside. In fact, there is remarkable secrecy shown on both sides in the dispute. Mr J. Flood, s'ecretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union, would not even say this morning that there was any prospect of a conference. SHIPS AFFECTED. The following ships are affected by the dispute:— Matakana, which has 1200 tons of Liverpool and Glasgow cargo, mostly ironware, which would require seventy men. Canadian Miller, from Canadian and American ports, with 550 tons of general cargo, > including motorcars. Seventy men will also be required for her. Coolana (the preference ship) .with 2500 tons of Newcastle coal. Seventy men -will be wanted. A call was made this. forning in the case of the Coolana, but there was no response. No calls were made for the other vessels. Anglo-Columbian, with 1700 tons of bulk sulphur. She will require railway hands and several others on the ship for the discharge of her cargo by grabs, and more hands* if. the grabs are not used. Waihemo, with case oil and -general cargo. The vessel will require about ninet}' hands. The Maori is handling only perish-

able cargo. From the nature of the cargoes it is clear that the drapery establishments of Christchurch have not yet been affected to any great extent. Approximately, there is work at the port for three hundred men. More work would have been made available had seven ships not been diverted from Lyttelton.

It is believed generally in Lyttelton that the men are very strongly against working on Saturday afternoons. A vote on the question taken recently, it is said, gave a seven-to-one majority against it. It is difficult to ascertain the thoughts of the men themselves as they show a disinclination to discuss the matter outside the ranks of their own union. Great secrecy has been maintained, and there is evidently a strong loyalty to the executive.

In 1920 the watersiders were receiving a rate of 3s lid an hour for ordinary cargo. By the last award this was reduced to 3s 3d, and later an increase of three-farthings an hour was made for work on Saturday afternoons. The men contend that the additional penny half-penny is not a sufficient inducement to work on Saturday afternoons. When Mr Flood was asked regarding the position at Port Chalmers, he said he knew nothing of it. The only sign of activity on the waterfront this morning was amongst the crews of the vessels. They were engaged in painting the ships’ sides and cleaning the decks. CONFERENCE PROBABLE TOMORROW. At 2.30 p.m.. Mr F. E. Sutton announced that he had just received a letter from the employers, the contents of which he could not divulge, except to state that certain questions were asked to which he would reply as soon as possible. Questioned as to whether he. considered a conference would eventuate, he replied that he thought a conference might be held to-morrow.