WHARF CRISIS?

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1921, Page 5

WHARF CRISIS?

POSITION 6nCHANCED. WELLINGTON DEADLOCK. A CREW PAID OFF. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 22. Affairs on the waterfront have no new feature, except that the crew of the steamer Talune has been paid off. The list of vessels anchored has been added to by the arrival of the Dartford, with 1600 tons of coal. The Tofua is due to arrive to-morrow night from Sydney. Her return trip has been abandoned. Wellington, Feb. 22. The situation on the waterfront is still unchanged. Mr. Roberts, secretary to the Watersiders’ Federation!, has returned to Wellington, but has declined to make any statement. Although no fresh labor has been engaged since Thursday last between 600 and 700 men are still working the ships. About 600 watersiders and IS ships are idle. The report that shipowners have decided to pay off the crews is premature.

POSITION AT DUNEDIN. GENERAL STOPPAGE SOON. Dunedin, Last Night. Employers and workers continue to mark time at the Dunedin(waterfront. The Tarawera, Kaiapoi and Te Anau are still tied up, and no work is being carried, out on them. Work on two vessels—the Corinna and the Tealdo—which had been started before the trouble commenced was continued to-day as far as the broken weather would permit. With the departure of these two vessels work at Dunedin will have come to a standstill. REFUSAL TO LOAD FRUIT. NELSON APPLES FOR ENGLAND. Nelson, Last Night. The steamer Hororata was to have taken 13,Q00 cases of Nelsion apples to England, and the fruit is now being assembled; but word was received this morning that the watersiders would not load the apples. The Kaitoa was loading 7000 cases today for transhipment to the Hororata, and another 6000 cases on Thursday. Every effort is being made to secure the Hororata’s loading, and if they are unsuccessful it means a heavy loss to Nelson growers, and the waste of a portion of the year’s work.

NO OVERTIME AT TIMARU. Ab Timaru, Last Night. The watersiders refused last night to work overtime on the Wanaka, which is loading produce for Auckland. No work was done this afternoon, owing to heavy rain, on the Canopus, Cosmos, Wanaka and John, now in port. CARRIERS AFFECTED. Wellington, Feb. 22. The ‘General Carriers and Customhouse and Forwarding Agents’lndustrial Union of Employers' gave drivers one weeks’ notice last night, owing to the slackness in the carrying business resulting from the waterside hold-up. A number of vessels in port are about to pay off their crews and a start was made yesterday with some of the smaller boats. GASWORKS NEED. Auckland, Feb. 22. Consequent on the holding up of coal cargoes-, the Auckland Gas Company notifies a partial pressure except between 4.30 and 6.30 p.m. in the city area, with a further curtailment after Thursday unless conditions improve.