THE PATEA STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 242, 18 February 1911, Page 2

THE PATEA STRIKE

TROUBLE IN WELLINGTON. ' By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. A new development in connection with the 1 Patea shipping strike occurred today, when the Mana arrived from Patea. The steamer berthed at the Glasgow Wharf, and the casual labor employed by the Harbor Board, on being sent to truck cargo, declined the engagement, consequently the hatches have not been removed. The Mana has cheese for transhipment to the Athenic and Susßex. It is understood the board has reported the position to the Labor Department. It is rumored on the wharves t'<at. if the Mana is placed alongside cither of those Home boats for discharge of cargo the waterside workers employed on those liners will go on shore.. Representatives of the shipping companies whose vessels trade to Patea and the Seamen's Union are very reticent. Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Harbor Board, had a conference this morning with the executive of the Waterworkers' Federation, and will meet' the shipping companies this afternoon in an endeavor to bring about a compromise. SUPPORT FOR PATEA STRIKERS. In connection with the Patea waterside workers' strike, the executive of the Wellington Seamen's Union has resolved to give support to the Waterside Federation. Unless a satisfactory settlement is arrived at the union will advise those of its members employed on the Patea steamers to give legal notice to leave the vessels. The executive of the Seamen's Union in Dunedin has the matter in hand. Mr. Renncr, of the Patea Shipping Co., explains that the employers were perfectly agreeable to settle the matter in the legal way before a Conciliation Board or the Arbitration Court, but not by a single arbitrator. No offer of 2s 3d in lieu of the 2s Od per hour overtime was made by the employers at the conference. The Federation representatives were asked if an offer of 2s 3d would settle the question, but a negative answer prevented that aspect of the matter being discussed. The president of the Federation (Mr. Jackson) says that the reason why one arbitrator was suggested was in 'order to get an immediate settlement of the difficulty.