SHIP HELD UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1941, Page 7

SHIP HELD UP

TROUBLE ON WATERFRONT HIGHER WAGES SOUGHT. ALLEGED DIRTY CARGO. (By Telegranh—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 32. Two Wellington waterfront gangs which were supposed to start at 1 p.m. today unloading a cargo of guano declined to work for the ordinary award rate of 3s 10.7 d an hour —2s 11.7 d plus lid for guana. When the hatches were opened up, the men said it was a dirty cargo and claimed payment at the rate of 4s (Id an hour. This being refused the men left the ship. ■ The dispute was referred to the Waterfront Control Commission, which is obtaining a report from the Wellington Waterfront Controller (Captain C. V. van den Bergh). It is understood the men also held a meeting. An official of the company handling the cargo said that when the request for increased payment was refused, the men walked off. The same ship had been worked in New Plymouth five months previously with the same type of cargo and the men accepted thQ award rate without complaint. “Our members think, rightly or wrongly, that they were sacked," said Mr A.' Leary, walking delegate for the union. He said that quite a number of men had left when ho reached the ship, but those he spoke to told him they had been discharged. The secretary of the union, Mr T. Nt Warren, said he had no statement to make.