THE WATERSIDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1917, Page 3

THE WATERSIDERS.

POSITION AT GISBORNE. By Telegraph.—Press A- -.ociation. Gisborne, Feo. 5. The Arahura':; cargo from Auckland, comprising 30(1 tons for Gisborne, including a quantity of ?■. uit, owing'to labor not being available was overcarriod. Jt is hoped to land it to-morrow when tin. vessel returns from Napier. Hie Monowai. from south, has 200 tons (o land. When (lie company endeavored to engage labor at 8 o'clock, the permanent lightermen having been dismissed for roftising (o work yesterday, tie local watersiders declined to go to work till these permanent hands ha 1 been reinstated. Enough assistance was obtained to send out one lighter to brin r.-iioro the live stock and theatrical seentry, and the vessel, with the remainder ■:f her cargo, will proceed Auckland ( t r o'clock. The loading of the limbo." on (he Joan Craig for Sydney is proceeding. STOPPAGE AT WANGANUI. Wanganui, Feb. :">. The watersiders assembled for work at S o'clock on the wharf, but on account of not being willing to work overtime no men were engaged. The men state thev an' willing to work eight hours a day, bill object to unlimited hours. WORK PROCEEDING AT WELLINGTON. Wellington. Last Night. . The waterfront is busy again to-day. Work is proceeding on all the boat'.;. Willi regard to the ocean-going boat that was held up, the men decided, after hearing life contents of a letter from the insnagcr oT the company interested to use the nets, provided no further dump;.ng was done until the matter of dui/ipintr is dealt with by the disputes eo.»ir.iillee. OMINOUS CLOUDS. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, February 2. After lifting for a brief period the clouds of waterside trouble have descended ominously. It is fully apparent to-night that the parties are on the verm of a complete rupture. The Watersiders' Federation has refused definitely to refer its demands to the Arbitration Court and has demanded a round-table conference. The workers, with or without the sanction of the Federation, are supporting the claim by methods that involve a partial dislocation of work on the wharves and the delay of steamers at a time when the tonnage problem is acute. The employers stand bv their original demand for reference of the dispute to the Arbitration Court, and they announce to-night that in consequence of the actions of the workers they have referred the matter to Hie Employers', Farmers' and Citizens' Defence Committee, the body that handled the 11113 strike for the employers. This committee has met already and it will come together again to-morrow morning. Both sides have interviewed the Ministry. The officers of the Waterisdcrs' Federation had a prolonged meotin„ with members of the Government this evening, but no statement was made regarding the outcome bevond a of the Acting-Prime Minister's statement that the Government is neutral. How long this attitude of neutrality can be maintained in the face of a dispute that threatens to block Imperial supplies and even delay transports remains to- he, seen. The situation seems likely to develop quickly. The employers. in t\is evening's communication to the Wellington Waterside Union, indicate that thev are poing to employ freejai-or if necessary in order to seiure the loading and despatch of vessels, and it is no secret that arrangements already in train will provide this labor, posMblv moderate in quantity as well as quality, should the need arise But there are still men on both sides who hone that an actual struggle is going to be averted. The counsels of peace and compromise that are being offered may still have some effect.