THE WATERSIDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14599, 24 February 1921, Page 5

THE WATERSIDERS

| . POSITION IN WELLINGTON LABOUR OFFICIALS RETICENT. STOP WORK MEETING TO-MORROW By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. The silence ~f the officials of the Waterside Workers' Federation continues, but a special "stop-work" meeting of the local union will be held tomorrow to discuss (he position. Four Home liners —Karanga, Pakeha. Huahino and Alhenic —were removed to an anchorage in the stream to-day. There are now eight vessels idle in the stream, and eleven-idle at Hie wharf. The total tonnage of the idle boats is 72,07 4. About 900 walersiders are idle. The Otarama, Rimutaka, Dorset, and Marama are due in Wellington within the next two or three days, and will stand by until the trouble is settled. SEEKING A WAY OUT. REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Waterside Workers' Union has asked for a meeting of the local Disputes Committee to consider the waterfront deadlock. The employers agreed, and the meeting has been fixed for 2.30 this afternoon. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. All the vessels at Lyttclton were workeVl this morning, sufficient trucks in-jug available. Overtime was worked last night, and it is not anticipated at present that the waterside trouble will extend to I.yttelton. 270 MEN IDLE. DUNEDIN, Wednesday. To-day 270 men arc idle on the waterfront, the Sealeda being the only boat working. It is slated that a majority of the. j walersiders are against the Federation's present action. APPLES TO BE LOADED. WORKERS BLAME EMPLOYERS. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. There is no fresh development on the waterfront except that the employers have announced their willingness' to engage fresh labour for Hie purpose of loading the consignment of Nelson apples on the Hororata. This , is the result of an appeal from Motueka "diggers." Mr Roberts, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation, sent the following telegram to the R.S.A. at Ncl-" son: "The walersiders are not letting j the diggers down. We are prepared to discharge your fruit from the Nelson j boat, and load on Ihe Hororata or any other vessel. The employers have refused to engage watersiders to handle j your produce. We guarantee (hat the men will engage them. Forward this . to the Motueka diggers." The Somerset and Durham com- , pleted their loading, thus throwing ', more walersiders out of employment. | Probably about 300 watcrsiders are , now engaged. Seventeen vessels are idle. The Moana will return to Sydney without discharging. The officials of the Watersiders' Federation still decline to make any statement.