NO LOCAL MOVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26631, 29 November 1947, Page 6

NO LOCAL MOVE

BEER BOYCOTT DISPUTE TRANSPORT WORKERS' FEDERATION MEETING EXPECTED SHORTLY The Transport Workers’ Federation in Dunedin is expected to meet soon in order to discuss the West Coast beer boycott and its implications as far as Dunedin is concerned. It appears that the request of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union that concerted action shbuld be taken to prevent the transport of beer supplies from Dunedin until West Coast hotels selling beer at sixpence a glass are assured of supplies, has come as something of a surprise to local officials. Evidence of this was the difficulty experienced in determining the local attitude to the boycott and the proposed line of action. In a statement to the Daily Times last night, Mr S J. G. Jamieson, secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Transport Workers’ Federation, said: “ So far the local branch has not discussed the implications of the boycott and the matter of likely repercussions. Arrangements have been made, however, to hold a meeting at an early date to consider the matter. “ There is no doubt,” he added, “ that the workers of the local transport union will be behind the West Coast unionists in their campaign. I accept the point of view that this campaign is not a question merely of opposition to an increase in the price of beer, but is a campaign against rising prices generally.” The position has arisen ' because in spite of the loyal addiction of many West Coast residents to local' brews, there is a steady demand for the products of a Dunedin brewery. The beer boycott has brought' in its train certain complications in the matter of obtaining supplies so far as “sixpenny" houses are concerned,, and recently the sole remaining such hotel in Greymouth, where there are no fewer than 23 hotels, had to close down temporarily because it could, not obtain beer locally. The arrival of a consignment from Dunedin on that occasion eased the position and the unionists are now seeking to ensure that there will be no such difficulty in future. “ Black ” Beer The conference of watersiders in Wellington has asked the local transport workers to declare “ black ” all beer consigned to districts other than the West Coast, but as no meeting has been held there yet, no ultimatum has yet been delivered to the brewery concerned. Inquiries made from the management yesterday evoked the reply that, until something definite was done in the matter, there was no need to comment on the position. “All we know is what we have read p the paper,” it was stated. The ©tago Drivers’ Union and the local branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union have made no move in the matter so far and the former, indeed, has not yet been asked to do so. Inquiries made among union officials and members yesterday indicated that many of them had only a hazy idea as to what the boycott is about and there was no haSfte to make avowals of support or statements of denunciation.

Needs Not Stated Messages from Wellington regarding the boycott and the request for support in Dunedin make no reference to the quantity of beer which is considered to be adequate for the needs of the sixpenny hotels, on the West Coast and no information as to the amount habitually sent to that district was available yesterday. It is probable, however, that the amount is not very large, in spite of the reputed capacity of West Coast consumers, as hotels observing the old price order are very much in the minority. The term “ West Coast ” may. however. be intended to include the Buffer area, where there has been no move to increase the price by the publicans. West Coast eyes and ears . will certainly now be focussed on Dunedin for the next move in the struggle against the publicans and their thcreased prices.