WELLINGTON’S GOAL CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON’S GOAL CRISIS.

(Per Press Association.)

A FURTHER HITCH

Wellington, August 25. W lit’ii the call for labour was made at one o’clock to-day only one half of the men required for unloading the superphosphate cargo- of the Japanese steamer was offering. In consequence tho shipowners decided not to engage fresh labour until the full number of men wanted for the Meikoi Marti was forthcoming. The work of unloading the Japenese vessel has commenced, but no other ships are being worked.

THE MEN’S VIEWS. . WELLINGTON, August 25. According to Mr Glover, (President of the Watersiders’ Union,) some of the men who were present when Labour was called for to man the Meikai Maru did not offer themselves for engagmcnt because they had not come down prepared for the job. They were not wearing old enough clothes in which to go working among phosphate, and were not going to dirty the clothes they had on. Mr Glover added: “Hoivever they will accept employment at 8 o’clock in the morning.” Mr Glover added that many of the men fully expected to be asked to work the coal boats, and they were willing to be engaged. The Disputes Committee meets again to-morrow morriing. Besides the coal laden vessels Komata, Kiwi, land l)ona, which have been iii port for several days, the barquo Kappa arrived to-day with about 1080 tons of coal from Newcastle. Owing to the fact that no berth whs available the Raupo anchored in the stream. Tho Karamu with a.bout 1400 tons of coal arrived in the evening.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

WELLINGTON, August 25.

The waterfront trouble was only partly settled to-day and no coal at all was unoaded for the electric- lighting station ,power house, or gasworks.

There was ail attendance of about 1000 men at the meeting of the "Waterside Workers’ Union. The discussion centred round a recommendation from the Union Executive to the effect that work on the Japanese steamer be resumed on tho understanding that the Disputes Committee lie called together afterwards to decide whether the. nature of tho phosphate cargo would warrant any increase on the agreement rate of pay.

The proceedings, it is stated were very lively the Executive being subjected to a good deal of hostile criticism. Eventually by a majority of 286 votes, it was decided to adopt the Executive recommendation. At the conclusion of the Union meeting, the President (Mr Glover) informed Mr Bennett, (Manager of the Waiter side Employment Association), that the men had decided to liian the Makai Maru on the understanding that the Disputes Committee visited the ship afterwards and examined the cargo While it was being discharged for the purpose of saying whether an increase in the rate of pay was justified. Mr Bennett agreed to this arrangement on behalf of the employers, and 1 p.m. a call for labour was made ;by one of Gannaway and Co’s foremen. Theio was a great crowd present. Much excitement prevailed. As soon as the foreman appeared on the stand, he was accorded a hostile reception, being hooted and counted out. The foreman was then withdrawn and Mr Archer, an other of Gannaway and Co’s officials took his place. Archer succeeded in engaging two gangs, and on account of a noisy demonstration made by the hostile section of the Union members, he also had to leave the stand. Only about 20 men were taken on, Whereas fully three times this number were required to work the vessel. The men engaged included several members of the Executive of the Union. The action of those men who signed on for duty was viewed with considerable disfavour by a section of the crowd, and one worker was subjected to rough usage by a couple of fellow Unionists. Despite this, however, the men engaged at once proceeded to the Meikai Maru at the railway wharf and the work was resumed, being continued throughout the afteinoon° and also at night. As soon as it was seen that no moic labour would be available for working the Meika Maru, the employers reaffirmed their former attitude that ship must he fully manned before any other men were put on to man other ships, including the vessels, which have coal cargoes on hoard. The only exception were the Inter-Island steam61A meeting of employers was held in the afternoon, and the whole mattei was discussed at considerable length but it was decided not to ft aver f. the previous decision. To-morrow morning at 8 o’clock it l proposed to call for a full number of Lis to work the Meika Maru, and it fe hoped that tho men will be prepared to carry out the 'decision of the meeting of tin? Union.

WORK RESUMED. WELLINGTON, August 26. The Watersiders responded to tlm call for labour this morning and™ resumed on all the vessels m the port.