SHIPPING DISPUTES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING DISPUTES

,IJkTKALIAN AND N.c. CAULS aBSOOIA’.IOiFRESH TROUBLE. (Received this day at P a.in.) SYDNEY. February 19. Fresh shipping trouble is threatening owing to the Navigation Department deciding not to admit seamen to the Shinnihg Masters’ office, Dot to pick ui) the crews outside the building. The new rule operated to-day and although over two hundred seamen were waiting outside none offered their services, the men claiming they should be picked up inside.

WELLINGTON WATERFRONT. WELLINGTON February 18,

A critical position lias arisen on the Wellington waterfront, in consequence of the water,siders refusing to work t Rotorua.

Alueh dissatisfaction has been expressed concerning the new watersiders’ award, under which the wages were increased a halfpenny an hour.

The position became acute to-day when a call for labour for the Rotorn; was ignored.

The ship owners considered the position. They refuse to accede to the watersiders’ demand for sixpence an hour additional to the pcrsent rate. The owners have issued ail edict that until the Rotorua was worked there would be no further calls for labour. This means that all the vessels reaching this port will now be held up. The vessels in port, other than the Rotorua are working as usual.

When the operations -on the ships in port are completed the whole port will then he idle.

Air G. W. Barrett, Secretary of the Waterside Employers, has issued a statement confirming the pronouncement made by the shipowners. So far no official statement has been made hy the Watersiders Union regardinsr the dispute. Tt is generally believed that the men will take action as a counter move. Strike talk is prevalent here, bill there w; , no demonstration when the employers issued their ultimatum, which was an unexpected move, air came as a l.ig surprise.