WATERSIDE DISPUTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1925, Page 3

WATERSIDE DISPUTE.

EMPLOYERS’ ULTIMATUM. [by telegraph—per press association.^ WELLINGTON*. March 3. As the statement had been made that the YY'atersiders’ Union had not received official notification of the decision of the employers not to engage further labour, the Secretary of the Employers’ Association to-day sent an official notification that no labour would he engaged until a satisfactory undertaking is given hv the Union that all vessels will he worked in accordance with the terms of the Arbitration Court Award. By to-morrow over twenty vessels will lie idle, including the Hororata. YYainmna, Trohartha, Mnuugunui.' Manuka and Ulimaroa. Coal supplies in the city are satisfactory. MARAMA STILL HELD UP. SYDNEY, March 4. Tlie firemen have not returned to the Marama and the vessel, with her passengers on board, is still held up. SERIOUS FOR APPLE TRADE. WELLINGTON, March 3. All the North Island fruit destined for the steamer YYt’.imuna is now in cool store in Wellington and Napier. The Secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation stated that some 200!) cases of apples' from Hawkefj Pay. Auckland, and Blenheim were held here. Tlie hulk of the allotment, however, is in store at Nelson, where some 15,000 eases are waiting to he lightered out to the vessel, which is .scheduled to call at that port. The position was serious, he said, as Smith American shipments were just about to leave. The Rotorua took 0200 cases of apples, but the lonic, which is to load 11,000 cases, i.s held up at Lyttelton. The apples for this shipment are just about ready for picking, and will have to be sent to the cool chamber, and there i.s a danger of the limited space available at Nelson being used tip. The local market supplies are also likely to cause trouble.

UNION COMPANY’S VERSION CHRISTCHURCH, March 3

Mr W. 11- Price, the Christchurch Manager of the Union S.S. Company, stated this afternoon that the suggestion that there has been a split among the oinplovers on account of the working of the I'errv steamer, has nbsolutelv no truth. The position in connection with the ferry steamers was that all the cargo that had been overcarried, and all that had accumulated at the port was being cleared up to-day. After to-day only flour and perishable cargo, would he accepted for the

ferry steamers. It was necessary, lie said, to employ extra gangs this morning, in order to clear up the accumulated cargo. CHRISTCHURCH, March 3. The Kennedy and the Wairau were loaded this afternoon. The Cygnet will load to-morrow. The John will most likely also ho worked to-morrow. The Port Denison arrived this morning and anchored in the stream. NEW GISBORNE CASE. GISBORNE, March 3. A Maori infant, eight months old, whose parents reside in Gisborne, has been sent to the Cook Hospital suffering from infantile paralysis. An examination showed that some ol tlie muscles were affected, hut the medical opinion is that the serious stage of the disease was readied a considerable time ago. SUPPORT FOR YYATFRSIUKRS. WELLINGTON. March 4. The Wellington' Amalgamated Enoincciiug Union lasi night passed the following motion: ‘‘This meeting ol Willitigton Engineers declares itself entirely in svmpathy with the watcisiders in their attitude of resisting the absurd demand of the Shipping Companies, and further, if this attitude is pursued by the employers this Union pledges itself to assist, the walersiders to the bast of its ability, morally amt financially.”

fMSHOIINK OTKIMTTI*; rNSKTTLKH. (lIiSUOHNK, Miirch I. '|'] u . disputes (■(iinniittoe met tins morning to discuss tlu* retus:d ol tlte watershlers to work the steamer A wain,u. It is slated the men raised an objection to an expression alleged to have keen used hv the captain ot the Awalmn on a previous visit. The captain denies using the expression complained of and is supported hy the crow. The men ollered no suggestion for m settlement. The matter has been referred to 'Wellington. A further cab was made for labour for the Awahou :d 1 o’clock, hut there was no response. COMMOXWKAhTH SHU’S. SVDX KV, March I. A meeting of the Alaiine Transport firoup decided that all vessels chartered hv the Commonwealth should he deeiared “black” and that the steamer Queenmore in particular should not he worked upon arrival at Sydney. ' If the above decision is enforced it may precipitate a serious split m the maritime movement as the wnteiside workers have made it dear that they have no intention ot abiding l> the decision. 15K1.X0 K KPT GUESSING. M I'MdiOni.Xlv. -March 4. There is considerable rs to the whereabouts of the steamer \ oliimuia. The officials of the Commonwealth Line state that they do not know where she is or wlmt her cistination was. It is suggested the vessel may go dire, t to New Zealand without again touching at Austiaban ports.