WHARF CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1921, Page 5

WHARF CRISIS.

NO MARKED CHANGE. THE MEN’S SIDE. LETSJR FROM THEIR SECRETARY, "* I w By Tal^rabfa.—PreaA Ajwo&atlo*. Wellington, Feb. 25, The Waters ide rs' Federation has not yet replied to the proposal made by the employers that the present position on the waterfront shall be considered by a special committee representing both sides. Mr. Roberts, secretary of the Federation, in a letter to Mr. Bennett, manager of the Wellington Waterside Cooperative Employment Association, states that after having made exhaustive inquiries he finds (I) that "go-slow” was not put into operation at any port in the Dominion; (2) that the men did not act in concert in declinig overtime.

Mr Glover, president, and Mr. Roberts, are convinced that in all instances the watersiders acted strictly in accordance with the terms of the agreement. They assert, however, that th© employers ignore dlauae 45, which provides for a reference of disputes to the local disputes committee, and if necessary to, the national committee. Mr. Bennett, in his reply, says that he regrets he is unable to accept the statement, and is satisfied that the complaints are absolutely correct, emphatically so as regard the men acting in concert in refusing to work overtime. Mr. Roberts is in error in stating that the employers ignored clause 45. The dispute -was referred to the local disputes committee at Auckland and Wellington, but the unions at both ports declined to accept the responsibility of dealing with the dispute. POSITION AT AUCKLAND. SHIP TO BE PAID OFF. Auckland, Last Night. As the outcome of the waterside trouble, the Tofua will be paid off in the morning, involving the discharge of about 100 men. DUNEDIN MEN AWAITING ORDERS. Dunedin, Feb. 25. The position on the Dunedin waterfront is unchanged. The Sealda has completed her discharge and about 20 men are now employed loading the vessel with sand ballast. The work will be completed to-day. and the port thereafter will be idle. About 300 watersiders are now idle. The men appear to be anxiously awaiting news from Wellington. SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA. NO AUCKLAND BOATS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Sydney, Feb. 25. In consequence of the dispute between the shipowners and the waterside workers in New Zealand the Union Company’s steamers are held up and the Tofua’s crew have been paid off. There will be no steamers for Auckland next week. AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NO OVERTIME LAST NIGHT. A call for overime labor to work two of the vessels in port at New Plymouth was made yesterday, but the men declined to work after five o’clock. Overtime work was required for the Poherua, discharging cdal from Greymouth, and the Kaituna, which is putting out a cargo of cement from Whangarei. For the two other vessels at the wharf, the Rarawa and the La Merced, overtime labor was not required, as the Rarawa’s discharge was completed early in the afternoon, and the La Merced is being worked only usual hours.