THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3004, 15 February 1917, Page 6

THE WATERFRONT

ALL SHIPS WORKING VICTORIA CASE SETTLED ~ ANOTHER FACTOR IN THE DISPUTE All ships were working on the waterfront yesterday, the union having agreed, with the consent of the Napier Union, to work the s.s. Victoria. It may now be expected that work will go on as usual for somo days, until the employers and the union meet again before tho Conciliation Commissioner. If it then appears that there is any very great divergence between the maximum rates of pay the employers are willing to concede, and the lowest rates the union aro prepared to accept, conditions on the wharves may again become unsettled.

Two days before the meeting of the Conciliation Council, the coalmine owners of the Dominion have to meet representatives of the Coalminers' Federation, to consider a request from the federated miners' unions for a newagreement. Ifc is not impossible that the outcome of this conference may have- some effect on the waterside labour dispute.' WORK RESUMED AT NAPIER A SETTLEMENT REACHED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, February 14. As a result of the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonuld's visit to Napier*work was resumed at l'ort Ahuriri at 1 o'clock this afternoon, ou the conditions obtaining previous to tho present trouble, ajid matters in dispute are to be considered by the Disputes Committee this evening. The resumption of work was brought about by Mr. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Watersiders' Federation, getting into touch with Wellington last night, when it was agreed that the employers at Napier and the Watersiders' Disputes Committee should meet. At this morning's conference a settlement was reached. On the matter being put to the workers, it was decided to commence work immediately. Free labour was brought ashore from the liners in port, and withdrawn on shore. By 10.30 o'clock lighters and launches had brought ashore those men working on the liners, whereupon the labour foremen began engaging men for the resumption of work at 1 p.m.

With regard to Wellington, Mr. Roberts gave it as his opinion that the effect of work being restarted at Napier would be that normal conditions would he resumed at Wellington immediately. This morning there was a large number of men about the waterfront at the port awaiting events. Plenty of labour was available when the call came.