WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1675, 15 February 1917, Page 3

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Napier, Fell. 13

The Hon. W. I). S. MacDonald presided over a meeting of waterside employers to-day, bold in committee. The Minister is endeavouring to bring the parlies together to effect a settlement, but so far •without success. To-night the waterside leaders and Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the Federation of Labour, addressed a crowded meeting in the Municipal Theatre. The Arbitration Court was blamed for the whole (rouble, as members of the Court were not acquainted with waterside conditions.

A. resolution was passed deploring the strike, and urging the Government to bring Hie parties together in conference.

Free labour is loading one Homo liner in the bay and unloading another. Coastal shipping lias practically ceased, and some ships are laid up. Napier, Feb. 14. .\s a result of (be lion, MacDonald's visit to Napier, work was resumed a! Port. Aburiri at one o’eloek Ibis afternoon, on (lie conditions obtaining previous to the present (rouble. The mailers in dispute are to be considered by the Disuptes Commit toe (his evening. The resumption of work was brought about by .Mr Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand AVatersiders’ Federation, gelling into touch with Wellington last night, when it was agreed (hat employers at Napier and the Watersiders’ Disputes Committee should meet this morning. At this morning’s conference a settlement was reached. On the la Iter being put to the workers, it was decided to commence work immediately (he free labour was brought ashore from the liners in port and withdrawn on shore. By 10.30 o’clock lighters and launches had brought ashore those men working on the liners, whereupon (he labour foreman began engaging men for the resumption of work at 11 a.m. With regard to Wellington, Mr Roberts gave it as bis opinion that the effect of work being re-started at Napier would be that normal conditions would resume at Wellington immediately. This morning (hen l were large, numbers of men about (lie waterfront at the port waiting events, and plenty of labour was available when a call came. Wellington, Feb. 14. As a result of advice from Napier received by the Wellington Watersiders' Union to the effect that the dispute there had been temporarily settled, the men decided to work cargo on the Victoria. 'Che Ripple, which arrived from Napier during the night, is also being worked, as well as the vessels from Wanganui. Cargo operations are now being carried out on all the vessels in port.