Waterfront Work Halted

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 61, 4 December 1937, Page 7

Waterfront Work Halted

-Press AsBociation.)

AUCKLAND, HOLD-UP Men Refuse to Begin Work at Night NO REASONS GIVEN

(By Telegraph-

. AUCKLAND, L'ast Night. A labour dispute which will involve all inward shipping until a settlement is reached, 'developed further on the Auckland waterfront to-day. No work was done on the Union lompany's motor ship Waiana or on the Westport Coal Company's Canopus. Union workers, aftcr accepting employmenfc on tlie Waiana . on Tkursday morning, later decided not to commen'ce work on this vessel for which they were called for 6 p.m., until the following morning.* As this was h violation of the rules of the labour bureau, the men who had refused work were suspended nntil the Waiana had finished working or for two days, whicheyer was greatest. A call for fresh labour for the vejsel was made at the bureau this morning but it was unanswered except by the suspended men who had been unsuccessfully called for the previous night. . In accordance with the bureau rules these men were not permitted to work . the ship. - ■ The refusal of the men to start work on Thursday night has- made the Waiana a preference ship and-no fresh labour will be enghged • for incoming vessels until she is manned with men not concerned in the original dispute. Consequently no work was done on the Canopus which arrived from Westport early this morning. Unless fresh labour is cngaged to-morrow morning to work the Waiana, no work will be done on the Hamburg-Amerika steamer Gera which arrived from New Orleans late to-night, or on the New Zealand Shipping Company liner ' Rotorua which is due from Liverpool about 8 o'clock in the morning. When approached, the vice-president of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, Mr. E. Jones, remarked that he was unable to make any statement until he had communicated with ofiieials of the union in Wellington. No reason has been offered by the union for the refusal of the men to work the Waiana on Thursday nigbt. and the Port of Auckland Shipping and S'cevedores' Association is at a loss to understand the behaviour. In shipping circles, however, it is considered that the fact that watersiders are paid on Thursdays is not without significance. Eepresentatives of the employers and, femployees conferred without tesult and' at noon the Shipping and Stevedores' Association issued a statement- emphasising their determination to adhere toth'e rules of the bureau. Developmentsi in the morning will depend on the atti-' tude of the waterside workers wjlien ai call was made for fresh labour for thal Waiana. >