CEMENT CARGOES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 8

CEMENT CARGOES.

HAUPIR! STUCK UP, AN AItMTIiATOR CALLED IN. Trouble ivith the AYellington Waterside AVnrkers' Union was responsible for delaying the Union Company's steamer Haupiri yesterday. It was the old trouble—the handling of cement. Tho vessel arrived from Auckland, via way ports, on Saturday evening, her cargo including 150 lons of cement. This was to have been put out yesterday to enable the vessel to clear for l'icton and other ports. At 8 a.m., however, the edict vent forth that the waterside workers would not handle the bags unless they wero permitted to use hooks. The Union Company refused this request, and the upshot was that no work was done in the direction of unloading the cement yesterday, and the vessel remains at Wellington. Later in the morning a conference was held between the men's representatives and the Union Company. Captain E. IS. Attwood, of tho Westport Coal Company, was chosen a.s arbitrator. Negotiations wero entered into, and some sort of settlement was arrived at later in the day.

History of the Trouble. It will be remembered that, several months ago, this kind of trouble began M m C!U °° °f ceniont which arrived tpo Wannka. The decision on that occa*tion was that the bags were to be paperlined. :\ 0 hooks were to be used. The R' • ho " l evc f' t0 bo allowed extra r>rnnn"i l l ?'*' - orc or loss trouble cropped up afterwards, and, on February n °' ( l f eara .®. to a ''end. This was in eoii„w.:ll 1j 1 cement consignment which as earned by the Monowni. On that W- Sl i 011 0 'J Oll "fuswl to handle tho fel l« Cn . n °, y luul 1101 ken l >a P c ' ! '- mnrn J " tl'i "I' oll ' nce rrl To, settlement was arrived at, the U-J ™ ,y om P a ">" agreeing to pay more V" u,i !" the award rate. The Jlonorl ,V T *M lUS ,oiiiiblcil to land her cargo. Un i riday last, however, tho Huddartlaiker steamer Victoria was compelled '®P bags of cement (consigned to \\ ellmgton) on to southern ports, because the cargo workers desired to use hooks and the company would not allow it. As m,i i I 0v ?' J-Kterday's incidents were the latest phase of the trouble. \hen seen concerning the "Haupiri incident yesterday, officials of tho Wellington AYatersido Union refused to sav anything concerning the matter. It is understood, however, flint lnanv of the men were disgusted with the'attitude taken up by the union, and it is said that t? V ,9 lC ™ "lcir opinions strongly. NTn T - • other hand, representatives of the Union Company held that the ques--1 5,,. . lvns raised at the recent A\ aterside Workers' Conference, but that it was decided that bags should not number less than 13 to tho ton, and that they should „be paper-lined. The Union Company received no warning of tho intention to stop work on the Haupiri until yesterday morning. It was rumoured that tlie men had refused to handle the vessel s cargo because the bags wero too heavy. A press representative was informed that this.was not a fact, but that tho whole question hinged on tho demand of tho men to rise hooks.

Captain Attwood's Decision. Captain Attwood, in Riving a, decision yesterday, in favour of the men, stated as follows:— After enroful consideration of .the question of men using hooks whilst discharging bags of cement and cargo of j a similar nature, I have come to the conclusion that [hooks (the pattern cf which I hand in with this report) mav be used ,011 lugs only—that is when they can bo seen. When the lugs are covered, a grip of tho the bag may be taken round the bilge, or end, by using the hook in a way that no perceptible liolo will bo made, for tho bag will lie in tho bend of tho hook, so that a good grip can be made without damage. On no account are tho bags to bo lifted • -by hooks on a vulnerable part, so as to cause damage. That is to say, by hooking the bag on the upper part, and having tho whole weight of its contents on the point of tho hook. If the man is seen io use a hook iu the latter manner, so as to cause damage, and tile officer in charge remonstrates with him, and lie still persists using the hook, in ail improper manner, tho : officer is to liavo power to order tho man out of tho hold. It is impossible to estimate the number of times that a bag will stand refilling, for this will depend on circumstances. When receiving cargo tho officer in charge should note, on receipt, whether the bags are in suffieieutly good order, or otherwise. All bags of cement, and sacks of potmeal, containing small bags, should have four lugs attached. Theso would greatly facilitate discharge, and minimise the risk of tearing. If it is impossible to form lower lugs beforo filling the bags, they could easily be made after tho contents are in by allowing sufficient space in tho bags to stop lower corners with ropo yarns or twine. I consider that the weight of tho bags should be 1121b. each—2o to the ton. (Signed) E. B. ATTWOOD, Arbitrator. The work of discharging tho Haupiri's cargo of cement will l>o commenced this morning, but the Union Company have granted the use of hooks under strong protest. The whole matter is to be referred by them to the Federation of Labour. It may be mentioned that sonio 50 tons of Golden Bay Company's cement were handled on board the Mokoia at Wellington yesterday without a hook being used.