SHIP DELAYED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 6

SHIP DELAYED

DISPUTE OVER CARGO CLAIM FOR “DIRT MONEY” (By Telegrapft.—special to Times) j GREYMOUTH, Tuesday j Because oi a dispute between the I agents and waterside workers emJ Ployed the loading of a ship was | delayed for two hours at Greymouth j this morning. In view of the fact that the vessel ' dad recently carried guano, watersiders invoked the "dirty work” clause of the award and demanded ; an extra payment of 2d an hour for I all work done in the hatches, guano dust being regarded as an unpleasant inconvenience. It is stated the agents were prepared to pay “dirt money” until the floor of the hatch was covered with timber to 'keep I down the dust, or, alternatively, to | allow the watersiders to sweep out the hatch to their own satisfaction. Both these offers were declined by ; the men, who demanded that "dirt money" should be paid for the dura- : tion of work in the hatches, stating : that they would not sweep out the hatch, as this work had been commenced by the crew. The waterj Siders also declined to work pending the hearing of their claim by the I disputes committee and no work was done on the vessel between 9 a m. j and 11 a.m. In the meantime the disputes comJ mittee met and it was later an--1 nounc-ed that the agents of the vessel had agreed to pay the extra money 1 lor the complete loading in the hatches of the vessel rather than tie it up for an indefinite period. Work was then commenced. The extra cost of loading the ship will be between £36 and £4O. A total of 27 men (two gangs) was affected this morning, but a., loading proceeds this number will be doubled, and all will receive the extra 2d an hour.