WATERFRONT DISPUTE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 March 1946, Page 3

WATERFRONT DISPUTE

-Press Association

MEAT SHIPMENTS DELAYED . PRODUCERS' STRONG PROTEST

By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. The dispute on the Lyttelton waterfront which has kept the port idle ail this week remains unsettled. The parties held a long conference today, but no annonncement was made. The day's work was not wholly lost through the dispute; today light rain would have prevented work during most of the day and the employers therefore saved a day's wages. It has "been suggested that, if further vessels are diverted from Lyttelton because of the dispute, the trouhle may spread to otlier )orts. A report on Wednesday that 45 'sheep had been unioaded from the Wahine by the consignees has been denied. A proposal was considered, but finally it was dccided to return the sheep to Wellington. - j A resolution calling on the Government to take immediate action to end the shipping hold-up at Lyttelton was carried unanimously "by the annual meeting of the Canterbury Agriculturai and Pastoral Association this evening alter several members had trenchantly criticised the delay occasioned in the shipment of meat to Great Britain. j Meat which was so desperately needed in Britain was taken to Lyttelton and then sent back to the freezing works, said Mr. D. W. Westenra, who raised the question. "We, as producers, should make the strongesi possihle protest. It is a blot on the reputation of this country. We should send a letter to the Prime Minister showing him that we are at the end of our patience," he added. The president (Mr. R. T. McMillan) said it was certainly competeut for the association, as a body of producers, to | draw the attention of the Prime Minister to what had happened. "I suppose he know's," he added, ' ' that the producers are anxious to help the Government and the country to sup--f/-»rvrl -frv *Rvi"haiTl -\T7lt.Fl t.h A Ip.afit. TiOR-

sible delay." j Mr. G. H. Grigg moved that the association ask the Government to take immediate action to see that meat was shipped to London without delay and was not held up "by strikes on the ' wharves. In recent days there had heen appeals by the Government and appeals by the churches to the Government to do something to help the food situation in Britain. "This makes it almost a farce when the Government sits down and allows the watersiders to hold up shipments," Mr Grigg added. ' ' The delay in the turnround of ships is a disgrace to our country. ' ' Brief reference to the question was made earlier in the meeting by Mr. Alfred Tarlton, London manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, who gave an address on the workLng of the London markets. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Tarlton refer- ' red to the scheme announced by the Prime Minister for saving foodstuffs and sending them to Britain. He concluded with the comment, "I wish him the greatest luck with the scheme, hut it would be more to the point if he had assured us that, when ships reach these ports, they are loaded with food and sent away with a d — sight more speed than they are at the present time.' '