SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

COAL FROM NEWCASTLE

CARGOES NOT BEING WORKED

For some reason the Wellington waterside workers are making no responso to calls to unload the Kaiapoi and Kaitangata, which havo cargoes of Newcastle coal on board. The Kaiapoi arrived in Wellington on Saturday and the Waitangata on Sunday. The first signs that "something was in the wind" wero apparent on Saturday when no labour was offering to work the Kaiapoi. With a viow to trying to overcome tho difficulty—if difficulty there be—i* meeting of the Local Disputes Committee was held yesterday. The representatives of tho union disclaimed any official knowledge of tho cause of the unwillingness to work on tho part of the watersiders, simply taking np the attitude that the situation was due to individual action on the part of tho men. Although tho deliberations lasted for some time no solution of tho position was arrived at, and for tho present it seems that the ships will remain loaded. Messrs. L. Glover (president) and J. G. Bruce (secretary) of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, both refused to make any statement regarding the position yesterday. Last week a cablegram from Sydney stated that the secretary of tho Coal Miners' Federation wrote to Mr. Hughes (Primo Minister of Australia) and to tho owners' representatives drawing attention to tho unrest that was developing in the northern fields owing to tho increasing export of co,il to New Zealand, which, it was alleged, the New Zealand ■coal owners were using to defeat tho miners who were endeavouring to obtain increased wages and better conditions. Therefore, tho members of the Australian Federation wore not prepared to produce coal for tliat purpose. Ho urged the colliery proprietors to cease shipping coal to New Zealand the Dominion dispute wss settled, failing which thore was a dfinger of tho local minors ceasing work.