DISPUTE AT PORT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 7

DISPUTE AT PORT.

Trouble Over Meat and Potatoes. LOADING HELD UP. Waterfront disputes continue at Lyttelton, and there is an unsettled feeling with respect to the working of ships. While the men are not giving any reason for their action and the methods adopted, it is common talk that what they desire is the reinstatement of the 10 per cent cut and the completing of a new agreement. Overtime w r as refused last evening when the men were asked to work the coastal steamer Waimarino and the inter-colonial steamer Waikouaiti. This morning work on the two vessels was resumed as usual at S o’clock, but a fresh hitch occurred when the watersiders discovered that odd sacks of potatoes in the consignment being shipped by the Waimarino to Auckland were over weight. The men refused to handle them. An offer to pay extra money did not induce them to alter their minds. At noon it was arranged that their secretary, Mr J. Flood, should address them in respect to the extra rates. The commencement in the loading of meat on the S.S. and A. Company’s steamer Akaroa was delayed for about an hour and a half after the ship’s arrival this morning owing to the men demanding extra pay, stated to be an extra 10 per cent, for the loading of frozen meat. Work was started under protest on the condition that the matter be referred to the Disputes Committee. The Blue Star steamer Trojan Star, which is making her maiden call at Lyttelton to-day, arrived about 9 o’clock, and it was 10 o’clock before she was tied up. A call for labour was made for a 10 o’clock start, but the men would not respond to the call, unless they were paid as from 8 o’clock. The employers refused the men’s demand, and on it being intimated that the men would not respond to the midday call no further call was made and consequently the vessel will remain idle to-day. After the lunch hour it was stated that the watersiders had agreed to load the over weight potatoes on the Waimarino, a condition being that they would dump them out of «.he slings instead of carrying them and stacking them.