THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 134, 2 March 1921, Page 6

THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE

NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS “A LOCK-OUT OF SILENCE” RETICENT .UNION OFFICIALS The waterside dispute underwent no development yesterday as fur as the shipowners were concerned. The position still is that the employers are awaiting a’ definite reply from ike Waterside Workers’ Federation to the demand for assurances of uninterrupted work in accordance with the agreement. Some communications have passed between the parties, but the general situation is not changed. It was reported yesterday that the seamen, at a meeting, had decided to support th? waterside workers in refusing overtime, but the report was not confirmed officially. The Waterside Worker's’ Federation has been in communication with other Labour organisations during the last few days. Officials of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation and of the local union are still maintaining an attitude of strict reticence in connection with the trouble. Ao one official remarked to a Dominion reporter yesterday, "This is a lock-out of silence." Mr. J. Roberts (secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’’ Federation) left Wellington for Auckland on Monday in connection with the dispute. Tho situation was considered by a meeting of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union held yesterday morning. Mr. L. Glover, who is president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation, as well as of the local union, occupied the chair, and there was an attendance of about 1300 members. The proceedings lasted for two hours and a half. After routine , business had been transacted, a circular from tho federation was read, in which was outlined tho proposals submitted by the < mployers for a resumption of work. Attached to the circular was a report from the federation on the situation. The federation’s report was adopted unanimously. 1 No information was given to the Press regarding the nature of the federation s report, and no statement was forthcoming as to whether or not the meeting was in favour of reaffirming the existing agreement as an assurance that work would continue in future in a normal fashion. From unofficial sources it was learnt yesterday afternoon that the federation’s report adopted by the meeting did not favour returning to work unless under the old terms, and the abolition of overtime It is understood that the local union intends to stand cut until its available funde are exhausted. This report is supported by th© fact J/ 1 ® Union Company yesterday announced that the Lyttelton, Nelson, and Picton ferry steamers will in future only lake ishable or urgent general cargo. This looks as if tho trouble was expected to last for Rome time yet. Tho Marama flailed 1 without being loaded the permanent Union Company’s men, as’was reported in yesterday’s Dominion, refusing to work the vessel. The Manuka Iterthed, but the men refused to work her, and the Union Company is faoctl with the problem of how to discharge the perishable cargo. aboard, which includes 170 cases of fruit. A suggestion is afoot to unload one of the coal vessels in port by non-union-ist labour, and an appeal is being.mnde for 750 men. Tho men will bo paid the regular rates under the scheme, and the money donated to the Children’s Hospital. Tho coal will be given to the gasworks. It is understood, however, that this cannot be done, owing to the' preference clause in the agreement between tho shipowners and the watersiderfl.. The suggestion comes from an outside source, and it is improbable that at present it will be adopted. The number of idle vessels in port was not increased yesterday. The Huia was worked by private labour, and was expected to sail early this morning, for Picton. The Hororate is to sail to-day for Wanganui. The Admiral Cordington and Flora are both due to-day, and the Weet Camargo and Zealandic are expected to-morrow. COAL RUNNING SHORT SOME INDUSTRIES FEELING THE PINCH. There is plenty of coal afloat in the harbour, but the stocks ashore in Wellington are nothing to boast about. The City Council is fortunate in having about a month’s stock in yard, so that the tramways and electric light services are assured for a few weeks at all events. All the coal-burning industries, however, are not in so happy a position. Most of them are scraping for supplies, only to find these have dwindled down to nothing. One firm of pipe-makers in Wellington South will have to close down this week, unless ‘ further coal is made available. Murphy’s, the big brick-mak-ers, have a sufficient stock on -'hand to keep going for another ten days. The meat freezing companies, which now have full chambers, are fairly well supplied with coal, and will not need to worry about their furnaces for 1 a few weeks, though the delay in getting the meat away is annoying. Some of the blacksmiths have found it difficult to get supplies of "smithy” coal, and will prqbably have to close down in a few days if no relief is afforded. It is understood that tho Government Railways hold fair stocks of coal throughout the country, but the Wellington Gas Company will have a dose call to setfspe through next week-end, and a reduction in the hours of the consumption of gas may now be looked for any day, assuming' no coal cargoes are worked. In most of the. smaller manufactories dependent on coal for power, a sufficient stock is held) to allow of full working time for the present week, but such busines.se.? do not, as a rule, run to big coal stocks, and next week is likely to find most of them out of fuel. FLOUR STACKS LOW ONLY A LEFT. According to a local merchant, of flour ashore in. Wellington are very low. “I have less than five tons in etore,” he said, “and I assume that the other merchants are no better off. I have from 90 to 100 tons in the harbour, but it is impossible to say when we will be able to get that. Some of tho bakers are fairly well supplied, but others will be pretty wel' at tho end of their tether by the end of the week.”

BAKERS GIVEN WEEK’S NOTICE. Unless the trouble on the waterside is settled during the next week, Wellington may be faced with a bread famine. Stocks of flour in the city are exceedingly short, although there are vessels in the harbour with flour on board. The head of a large bakery establishment in the city informed a Dominion reporter last night that his firm had enough flour to last for a week, but in case tho trouble on the waterfront should be prolonged, all tho firm’s bakers had been given a week’s notice. Tho notice, however, was purely a. format measure, as it was hoped that the Government would take steps to see that bakers were supplied with flour for berad-ranking. Tho men understood the position thoroughly, but as some had desired to be given a week’s notion in the event of it being fou’id necessary for th" firm In elos" ,' v.:i. i‘ had been decided to give nil the employeoH formal notice. “I hope we will not hare to carry the notice into

effect," remarlted The Dominion’s informant, "and I think we will be able to get the flour. The Government has power to. obtain supplies. In any case, tve will keep going as long as we possibly can." sugaFheld up The Minister of Industries and Com- ’ merce (Hon. E. P. Lee) stated yesterday that the cargo held on the idle ships in ■Wellington included part if the second lot of sugar bought by the Government in Australia. The quantity purchased was 1000 tons, and the intention of the Minister was to make this extra quantity of sugar available for use during the jam-making season. But the housewives must wait now until the waterside dispute is settled. FEW MEN WORKING AT AUCKLAND By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, March 1. There were no fresh developments on the Auckland waterfront te-day. A general meeting of watersiders will be held to-morrow for the purpose of coneidn--ing various aspects of the dispute. The number of watersiders employed on the wharves has gradually been decreasing, until now only about 200 are v orking dailv out of n' total of '.400. Some 200 men have accepted employment elsewhere.