WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1917, Page 4

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

WANGANUI BOATS TO BK WORKRu GOVERNMENT MARKING TIME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 12. The waterfront is again practically idle to-day. Another call was made for labor on nil (he vessels from Wanganui, but the men did not respond, consequently few were taken on—seven of them for unloading the cargo from tho relief ship Aurora. A conference before the Conciliation Commissioners was to have taken place to-day, but the assessors appointed by the Commissioner to represent the waterside workers did not- turn up The union, however, communicated with the Commissioner stating that, if the conference was adjourned until to-morrow, the onion's assessors would attend. At a largely attended meeting to-day the Waterside Workers' Union decided It work the boats from Wanganui this afternoon, but not necessarily the Ripple, which is expected to arrive from Napier early to-morrow morning. Pending to-morrow's conciliation proceedings it is understood the Government is marking time.

RETURNED SOLDIERS WILL HELP, Gisborne, Feb. 12. Captain Pitt, president of the Return* ed Soldiers' Association, telegraphed to (he Acting Premier that in the event of the Ocvi-rnmcnt finding it necessary to take control of the waterfront, he desire* to oiler the services of the Returned Soldiers' Association in order to help to maintain supplies for our boys at the front and to aid the Motherland in the present great crisis.

The oiler was mnde subject to the approval of the executive, who, he feeU confident, will endorse his action. PLENTY OF FREE LABOR. Napier, Feb. 12. The waterside situatiua at Mapier It still unsettled.

'J lie Mayor (Air. Vigor Brown) palled a n.oilii-.n; of both parties. The watersider.t attended, but the employers refiiM.ii to confer with the men. The vaiersiders decided to take the Municipal Theatre to-morrow night to place their case before the public. There is plenty of free labor at the port to-day, there b-.'ing fully 20 men in excess of requirements. Xo less than eight lighters were loading. The coastal steamer Rura wag discharging, most of the carrying being done by the employees or crews. The leading and unloading is being done by mercantile* clerks and settlers from the country.

The Ripple arrived yesterday from (.!\*» Lirnc. but proceeded to Wellington. The woo', stores nt the Port discharged thei* wool-workers on Saturday. A BOAT WORKED. Wellington, Last Wgnt. 'Hie wntersidcra are working the \V;in»amu boats, but not the Victoria, which was declared black. The Victoria Wiie loaded at Xapier, but not by free labor.