STOP-WORK AT THE WHARF.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1921, Page 8

STOP-WORK AT THE WHARF.

IMPORTANT WORK HELD UP. LIVELY MEETING OF UNION. Just before eight o’clock yesterday morning the wharfinger at the New Plymouth wharf was told that the men would not be starting work in unloading the two overseas 'ships at present in port. The reason was that the men proposed to hold a meeting to discuss union affairs. This, it subsequently was found, had to do with the suspension of the union secretary by the executive. The proceedings, which were lively at times, lasted for some time, and the men did not show up for work again until after mid-day. Incidentally, the meeting did not ap. prove of the action of the executive, which resigned. But the main point is the utter lack of consideration by the men’s former leaders of the interests of the port and local business generally. They did not care what loss or inconvenience they were inflicting on others, so long as they .consulted their own selfish interests. Just now it is particularly necessary to have no stoppage, as there are huge quantities of cargo to shift (9080 tons being dealt with in the past seven days), and if there ia a blockr.ge in one place it interferes with the general work of despatch. It so happened that the stoppage occurred at the very time , the general manager of railways and' the various heads of his staff were on a visit of inspection to the wharf and railway. Perhaps it was timed for the occasion in order to show the “big.wigs” the indifference of the rabid union leaders towards them and others who find them their wages. In the .past there has been little or no trouble with the local watersiders, the great majority of whom are respectable and level-headed men; but there is a leaven amongst them who are extreme in their views and quite irresponsible Fortunately the men, by a two-to-one majority, ejected some of the extremists from office, and we may soon see these irritating stop-work tactics cut out entirely, which will be to the advantage of the men themselves and the community generally. Work proceeded during the afternoon hours, and overtime was worked until ten o’clock last night.