STOPPAGE AT THE WHARF.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1920, Page 4

STOPPAGE AT THE WHARF.

WATERSIDERS TAKE A HOLIDAY. THREE SHIPS HELD UP. . The New Plymouth watersiders took * holiday yesterday. They rolled up u usual to find the Corinna at the ißtide berth, with the Glaueus and Regulua on the outside. They decided that it *»•• too boisteriouß to work the latter tiro vessels, owing to the dust froift 'tie guano and eodl blowing about. The Corinna, however, was, protected by the high wharf sheds, and the railway authorities had agreed to.run.jn A. few big trucks to provide additional protection, particularly for the work- of covering the trucks. The Corinna, of course, could not find work for all &e watorsidera, who intimated that, as the whole could not be employed on tho Corinna, nobody would. Slill they were prepared to stand by at the usual'pay and see if the weather improved.' fti no work was done at all on the wharvo*' yesterday. ' The Corinna has over 800 tens of general cargo aboard for Turanalir importers, who are naturally anxious to obtain early delivery. The railway* #ere in a position yesterday to deal with the cargo, and get it quickly despatched. They had .10 casual men ready, beside* their regular staff, but by the action of the watcrsidors, tlioy simply had to cool their heds for tlie whole of the day, the vessels in "port were ablo to, do nothing, tho work at the goods'sheds was all hindered nlid disarranged, importers will he put to unnecessary inconvenience and expense, and the port will be given a bad name. Towards the end of the week the liner Otarnma is expected, as well aa a lartyj ■ overseas boat with a cargo of coal. The delay of a day will thus cause considerable inconvenience to shipping,' as 'Trail as to the railways.

The local watcrsidcrs have in tl>e part behaved very reasonably and done their work expeditiously anil well, and the display of obduracy and unreasonableness yesterday is all the more surprhing. The men gain nothing at all by not working; in fact, 80 per cent, at least of them, lose a good day's pay each. It is hoped (here will be no further) stoppage, or ship owners, who are being urged to send their ships hero, may go where they will not be subjected to such unnecessary delay and trouble.