THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2998, 8 February 1917, Page 6

THE WATERFRONT

WORK AS USUAL YESTERDAY

POSITION'ELSEWHERE

On the Wellington wharves yesterday nothing occurred to indicate that there recently had been a serious labour trouble. Work went on very much as usual.

In Wanganui work was still being carried on with free labour. One of the steamers loaded yesterday, the s.s. John, left for Wellington yesterday morning, and it was exacted that the Putiki and the Breeze would sail last night. Labour will be required for these three ships in Wellington to-day. FREE LABBUR AT WANGANUI EMPLOYEES TAKE A STAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, February 7. The situation on tho_ waterfront is the samo as yesterday. Free labourers are working the Breeze, Storm, Kapiti, and Putiki. The steamer John finished discharging and loading, and left for Wellington this morning. The Inspector of Awards endeavoured to arrange a conference between the parties, but the Employers' Federation declined, stating that, in their opinion, there was no need of a conference, as there was nothing to discuss. By Telegraph.—Spe'cial Correspondent. Wanganui, February 7. The work carried out on the water front by free labour is being most expeditiously carried on, and the boats have never been so quickly discharged and reloaded with cargo as at present. It is understood that two or three members of the union have already procured work elsewhere, and others are leaving. The waterside workers who are not accepting engagement and those who have not sought work elsewhere are "having a good, holiday," as they term it. The do not appear to be worrying much about writer i'cdnt affairs at present. A visit to th® wharf is interesting. There are to be seen ministers' of religion, schoolmasters, clerks, retired men, boys—in fact men of nTi occupations in life —bustling and working away like Trojans. Taken on the whole, the work, is being carried out splendidly, there being no' grumbling, and all working with a will.-' Women folk are supplying the men with refreshments. It was stated this morning that the local Waterside Workers' Union had acted on their own initiative in the present instance, and that tlie New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation did not countenance their action. When approached and asked if such was correct, the secretary of the local union that the fmention had nothing to do with the dispute so far. It was true the local union were acting on their own behalf, and ho held that tlioy were perfectly entitled to do so seoing that .they had conformed to all rules and regulations in tiiat respect specially in regard to the secret ballot which had decided not to work between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Continuing, the secretary said that the union did not object to working overtime if the employers would consent to put on relief gangs; for instance, if one set of men worked from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m.. and another crowd worked from that time on for another eight hours, no objection would be taken. The employers. ho said, would not agree to this course being adopted. On the abow being referred to the secretarv of the Employers' Association, .he said that an olfer liad been made to the union when the men had been working the boats at Castlecliff. and ithad been turned down. The men had stated that they preferred to finish the job.

CISBORNE TROUBLE SETTLED. PERMANENT HANDS REINSTATED. By Telegraph—Press Association. I Gisborne, February 7. The waterside trouble has been amicably settled by the Disputes Committee the men resuming work at 1 o'clock. The permanent hands have been reinstated.