THE WATERSIDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14600, 25 February 1921, Page 5

THE WATERSIDERS

* PROPOSAL BY EMPLOYERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEE SUGGESTED. CHARGES ANIi COUNTER-CHARGES. By Telegraph Press Association. WELLINGTON, Friday. The Watersidcrs' Federation has no! yet replied lo the proposal made by the employers that the present position on Ihc waterfront shall be considered bj i i special committee, representing both j sides. Mr Roberts, secretary of the Federation, in a letter to Mr Bennett, manager of the Wellington Waterside Co-opera-tive Employment Association, stales that, having made exhaustive inquiries. he finds (1) that go-slow was not put.into operation ,R any porl in the Dominion; and i 21 that the men did not r.cl in concerl in declining overtime. Mr i Hover, president, and Mr Roberts sre convinced that in all instances the watcrsiders acted strictly in accordance with Hi.' terms of the agreement. They fTsert, however, that ihc employers igm red Man-.' 19. which provides for the reference of disputes to Hie local Disputes Committees, and, if necessary, to the National Committee. Mr Bennett, in his reply, says the employ.'is regre.l tint they are unable to accept the statement, and are satisfled thai th.'ii mplaints are absolutely . on-r'.'c|, emphatically so in regard to the men acting in concert and refusing to work overtime. The Federation is in error in stating that the employers igni red Clause it). The dispute was referred to (he local Disputes Committee's at Auckland and Wellington, but the union- at both ports declined lo accept ike .responsibility of dealing with the disputes.