WHARF STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1919, Page 5

WHARF STRIKE.

WELLINGTON SHIPPING IDLE.

-REFUSAL TO UNLOAD COAL, 4

OOASTAt FLEET gffiP UP,

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. 'Upon enquiry from shipping sources this morning ty was learned that apparently in sympathy with the miners the waterside workers in Wellington have refused to discharge coal brought from overseas, with, the result that at the present time two vessels with about 6000 tons, of coal are awaiting discharge and a third vessel is en route. The employers of waterside labor have felt compelled, in the circumstances, to refrain from engaging labor for any other work on the water front until the Waterside Workers' Union make satisfactory arrangements for the unloading of coal from the vessels in the harbor and shortly to arrive, and they || feel that they have taken the only action possible. The port is idle, with the exception of the work done by gangs engaged yesterday. The whqle of the coastal fleet will be held up indefinitely. The Pateena's departure for Picton and Nelson has been IMIHTIIfd. THE UNION'S ATTITUDE. The Union disclaims responsibility •for the shipping hold-up. Mr. Bruce, the watersiders* secretary, ■ays the workers are wining and ready to handle the ferry steamers to avoid hardship to the general public. If li&or does not respond to the call to Work the vessels in question it is a atatter for the individual worker, not the union. Any difficulty should be tackled through the proper channels of #le disputes committees. Mr. Roberts, secretary of the N.Z., of Waterside Workers, retfused to make a statement. There is a' shortage of coal, and the ety municipal supplies are not calcuted to last long. Owing to the- wharf trouble, the vesAtls wjfch arrived in Wellington this porting hare not been discharged. The Manuka, with general cargo and .#ke Kaitoa with fruit, cement and genSal cargo will have to return with eir cargo to Lyttelton and Nelson, respectively. The other coastal vessels in iort are net discharged. The Kakatau 3s dne to-morrow from Lyttelton and the Kaikoura with potatoes and onions. She Pateena's departure to Picton and (Nelson is cancelled. The Manuka will ileave for Lyttelton as usual OP EMPLOYERS—IO BLK \ ' ~~~~ SUPPORT FOR MTrJE-OWNERS. "' Wellington, Last Night. In connection with the coal mines dis- j irate and the action of the waterside workers in refusing to discharge oversea' coal cargoes the following resolu- j tion was unanimously adopted at the jneeting of the Employers' Federation: *-"In the interest of the general community this annual meeting of the Employers' Federation approves of the recent action taken by the Coal Mine owners' Association and of the prtsent ' action of the employers of waterside Jabor." It was also decided to publish a statement in connection with the matter. This statement, after outlining the course of the mines dispute and pointing out that after a protracted conference with representatives of the Miners' Federation the mine owners were compelled to intimate that it was impracticable to enter into a new national agreement owing to the varying conditions operating in the Dominion mines, proceedss-r—"lt is emphasised that the, principal demands made by the miners' representatives are vital questions of principle which have now been raised both in, the United States and at Broken Hill, in New South Wales. In both these places the employers have felt it necessary to face all losses and evils of protracted strikes rather than give way. In standing for the maintenance of contract'.and the piece woVk system the coal owners are fighting for the retention of a system vital u> all industries and which, until human nature becomes radically altered, is essential to any reduction in the costs of production, and therefore in the cost of living. "Moreover, it enables the Individual miner to pain the fullest advantage " from his abilities nature has given him. The interest* of the general community appear to demand that employers of coal miners should not accede to any further demands by both coal miners and waterside worker', and the methods of direct action adopted by these sections of workers constitute a grave na- • tional dancer and nre a deliberate disreearJ of the constitutional means of settling industrial disputes. Such actions are calculated to inflict serious injnrv iroon both primary and secondary industries, which wjll in turn fall with preat severity upon the workers of the Dominion generally, owing to the stoppage of work and the restriction of ' national developmentThe N.Z. , Employers' Federation, therefore, believing it is essential to prevent these tactics being continued, and that the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association and the employers of waterside labor are adopting the heft means of combating such desires, assure both these bodies of employers of their armroval and support in the vcrv difficult position, in which they are placed." ' EFFECT ON THE RAILWAYS. SERVICES MAY BE CURTAILED. Wellington, Last Night. in addition to supplies from local sources the .Railway Department has to depend on importations of coal from Newcastle to keep its service going, and In the event of the present trouble developing- the Department will be : forced to consider it* position. Mr. McVilly, the General Manager of . Railways, stated to-day that the Department had just opened out on its time-table after the recent resrictions, and if the trouble regarding Newcastle coal continued it would be bound to influence seriously the improvements which were contemplated in regard to the time-table. Possibly the Department might be compelled to curtail train services again. Mr. McVilly declined to make any statement regarding the poftftion of the of cpaj.