THE BOLDNESS OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 4

THE BOLDNESS OF LABOUR.

AN INCIDENT. (Bj Telecranii—Press Assocl&tlonJ CHristchiirch, January 5, The waterside workers at Lyttelton did not start work 'until after 9 o'clock this morning, and cargo-working, which should have begun at 8 a.m., was at a standstill. It was announced yesterday that a general meeting of members of the Lyttellon Stevedores' Union would lw held to-day to discuss matters relating to tlie conference which is to open at Wellington next Wednesday between representatives of the shipping companies, tho' Waterside Workers' Unions, and delegates from the New -Zealand Federation of Labour. The local representatives of severaL shipping firms pointed out to tho secretary of the Lyttelton Union (Mr. 11. R. Voyce) that it was scarcely a fair thing to the shipping companies, and the port generally to suspend work on the wharves in order to hold a meeting to discuss union matters during working hours. After consulting his committee, Mr. Voyce said that it had been decided to hold the meeting at 8 o'clock this morning, in order to ensure a full attendance of members, and it was not expected that the business would occupy more' than linlf an hour. The meeting wasvery largely attended, and was held behind closed doors, ana lasted from 8 a.m. till 9.5 a.m., work starting on the ships immediately afterwards. Seen by a reporter, Mr. Voyce (secretary of the union) said that tho meeting liad fully discussed and defined the j.owers given to the delegates of the union at the conference with the unplovers. Messrs. H. K. Voyce, F. Lurch, and W. Agar were appointed delegates to represent the Lyttelton Union at the conference in Wellington next Wednesday. They will leave for Wellington to-mor-row night, in order to be present at a meeting of delegates of all the waterside workers' unions, which will bo held oil Monday, to enable them to have conditions appertaining to tho various, awards ready for presentations at Wednesday's conference.