Bit Of A Circus When The Watersiders Meet Circus

Chronicle (Levin), 12 January 1949, Page 7

Bit Of A Circus When The Watersiders Meet Circus

Press Association)

(Per

- ■ BLENHEIM, Jan. 11. / Beliind the bizarre baekground of Indian elephants and the disinterested occupants of gaily painted menagerie wagons, a waterside dispute whieh threatened to hold up the opening of the South Island tour of a wellknown circus, occurred at Picton today. The Kaimanawa, which brought most of the animals and equipment from Wellington, reached Picton at 11 p.m. last night but no priqr arrangement had been made for waterside labour and a diffieulty arose when the circus management decided that the animals could not be left for the remainder of the night in cramped quarters below decks. Finally arrangements were made for drowsy monkeys, a brown bear and others — six elephants travelled first class as deck eargo — to be unloaded by the circus personnel Avith the help of the ship's crew. When the watersiders began their morning shift today, they raised objection in that they had been given no opportunity to nnload the vessel. Aceordingly they claimed an amount stated to be approximately £128 I which they contended they would have been entitled to. The matter was referred to the port committee and about noon it was announced that no agreement could be reached. The' next , development was that work ceased on the Tamahine and Hauturu whieh were also in port. Eventually the whole dispute was referred to the Waterfront Advisory Commission by whom the men were instructed to return to work and state their claims in detail. This order was earried out and work at the port was resumed.