LOCAL WHARVES IDLE YESTERDAY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16892, 6 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL WHARVES IDLE YESTERDAY.

VOLUNTARY LABOUR SOLICITED.

Work on the local wharves wasat a standstill yesterday. The waterside workers wero willing to work from S to o, but declined to work overtime, in terms of the existing agreement, but to this stipulation the employers declined to agree. ,

Subsequently an emergency meeting of the Employers' Federation was held to consider the position, Mr Gr. Caiman presiding. The proceedings were taken in committee, but a brief statement was made to the press to the effect that the local men had no grievance, but were presumably acting under instructions from Wellington, where the men are working to-day. It was explained ' that the men here had been given four chances to work —twice on Saturday, and twice yesterday—but had refused to turn to. So far as the earnings o£ the men are concerned, it was stated that there were 50 men in. the local union, and the average earnings for nineymonths had be&n £4 per man per week. One man had, a fortnight »gtb earned over £14 in one week.

It is understood that it was decided that the meeting should form itself ,into" a Citizens' Defence Committee and call for labour to work the wharves, all workers to be enrolled in the oom- i mittee. In this connection an adver- ■ tisement appears in another column in- J viting citizens to work the ships and ( wharves, starting from 8 o'clock thii ; morning.