700 MEN WORK AT PORT TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 5

700 MEN WORK AT PORT TO-DAY.

AFTER PERSUASION, GANGS DISCHARGE COOLANA —SPEECHES BY LEADER.

The Lyttelton hold-up came to an end to-day. All the available union labour and some non-union labour was engaged this morning when calls were made by the foremen of the various shipping companies. All told, some 700 hands were engaged to work the ships in the harbour.

There appeared to be a feeling of relief amongst the men at the thought that the hold-tip had terminated. The scene in the vicinity of the Coronation Hall was an animated one; even more so than usual, for, in addition to the 650 odd watersiders on the union's register there were over 100 unemployed from Christchurch seeking employment. Handy to the labour call stands were to be seen the managers and heads of the various shipping companies and agencies, watching proceedings which at first did not run too smoothly. Amongst the crowd was Mr J. Roberts. general secretary of the Watersiders’ Federation, and Mr W. Fenwick, secretary to the New Zealand Shipping Employers’ Federation. Mr J. Roberts, it is understood, addressed a meeting of watersiders in the Coronation Hall at S a.m., placing before them the arrangements made at the conference held in the Christchurch City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, at which Mr F. E. Sutton, Mayor of Lyttelton, presided, as an independent chairman. The meeting lasted until 8.30 a.m. A few minutes later, Messrs Kinsey and Co.’s foreman made a call for eight gangs to discharge the Coolana’s coal. Only three gangs could be obtained, and they included a number of nonunionists. Mr J. Flood, secretary of the local Watersiders’ Union, then mounted a stand and. railing the workers around him. advised the men who were in the habit of working for Kinsey and Co., and those who were working on the Coolana, to respond to the call, as that vessel would have to be manned before any other calls were made. Some of the workers walked away, but were called back either by Mr Flood or some of the other workers. The result was that when Kinsey and Co.’s foreman made a further call the five gangs required were easily obtained. The reason for the men not wanting to work the Coolana was that they preferred to

work general cargo on other vessels. Calls were then made for the other ships in port in the order of anival as follows: Matakana. Anglo-Columbian, Wahine, Tekoa. Canadian Miller, Waihemo, Holmdale. The ships were fully manned. An unusual sight was the large number of youths from Christchurch offering themselves for employment, after the union labour had been exhausted. Some of them obtained work but the majority’ were unsuccessful. It is understood that ‘a special rate is being paid for the handling of the bulk sulphur cargo on board the Anglo-Columbian, which amounts to 1700 tons. DETAILS KEPT SECRET. Information respecting the conditions under which the men 1 are returning to work could not be obtained this morning. When questioned, Mr T. Roberts stated that he could give no informatino other than that which had been given to the Press at the termination of yesterday’s conference. It was reported from an unofficial source that the men are returning to work under similar conditions to those existing when the hold-up started, until a further conference is hold at Wellington next week. The residents of the Port generally' are jubilant at the prospect of :i settlement, and the watersiders themselves also express satisfaction. The townspeople of Lyttelton praise Mr F. E. Sutton’s action in bringing about the conference which resulted in a resumption of work. SATURDAY WORK.

It is believed in Ly ttelton that the watersiders will consent to work on Saturday’ afternoons until five o’clock on boats which can be completed by that time. . In return for this the employers will grant an increase in wages of l*d an hour.