WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 10

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

y } , A NEW DEVELOPMENT NO DUMPING---NO NEW WORK At 7.45 a.m., yesterday work was engaged as usual for those steamers which had been Jworking during the week, and for the Wellington-Lyttel-tbn ferry steamer; I ;'which had a big lot of cheese. to' put out here that had been over-carried" on Wednesday. When-the labour foreman called for men for a particular ."New Zealand Shipping Company's stbarner (now a week in- port),- intimating at the samo time that the cargo would have to be ''dumped" (worked'iti nets) there was no response.'. Their Mr?-."William Bennett, secretary of ;.the Employers' Labour 'Committee," mounted the stand, and prefacing'• his remarks .with the atatement.that.no did,;not ; wi*h to iriakoj a'speech; or answer questions, said "that. the!, employers looked upon the Vessel in question as a .very important ship, and;if tlio men would not work her cargo with nets, there would be.no work at all.

By "that it was understood that as the vessels como' into port;, they will he'tied'up,'"and "only;, in cases of urgency, as'with perishable cargoes, will labour bo employed along the waterfront;: The Union Steam Ship Company also prefer to handle only perishable cargoes with the ferry steamers.

Conciliation Council. ■ The pending proceedings before tho Conciliation Council will, be watched with great interest. Hero is'a case where .the.' employers are ■ the applicants, and the men decline to take their case before the tribunal, or havo anything to do with it. In'such a case it will devolve upon tho Chairman of the Council (Mr. Haggar) to nominate assessors for the, union; and pro-. -ceed with the hearing of the case on th© basis of the demands already published. Having come to' a decision and framed an award, it will bo duly registered in the. Arbitration Court, and any action taken by the men outside the provisions of ..the award will bs ultra vires." On the other hand, if the, Federation, or union, or both, wish ,for a reconsideration of the position, they have simply;to appoint assessors and state their case.