Caution On Boycott Call

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31081, 9 June 1966, Page 3

Caution On Boycott Call

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 8. Little immediate reaction is likely in New Zealand to the request by the British National Union of Seamen for an international boycott of British ships. Union leaders said today that the British request must first be approved by the International Transport Workers' Federation, to which the New Zealand Seamen’s and the Waterside Workers’ Unions are affiliated. I The acting secretary of the | National Watersiders’ Federation (Mr E. G. Thompson)

said his organisation had not received any request from the N.U.S. for direct aid. “Any request for assistance for the seamen received by New Zealand watersiders will be considered in a realistic and responsible way if and when such a request is made,” he said.

Proper Channels Mr E. Isbey, of Auckland, the watersiders’ national president, said any request would have to go through the proper channels before being considered by his executive. The secretary of the Federation of Labour (Mr K. McL. Baxter) said that if the I.T.F. called for a boycott the first New Zealand support must come from individual unions affiliated to it. The F.O.L. would be called in if the dispute affected more than one union. The federation had the over-riding responsibility for the welfare of its affiliated workers if more than one union was involved, be said. Seventeen vessels will be affected in Lyttelton this month if action is taken in support of the British sea--1 men. The China Navigation Company’s motor-ship Kwangsi, was the only London-regis-tered merchant vessel at Lyttelton yesterday. Another, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s cargo liner Hurunui. anchored after arriving from New Plymouth last evening and wilt berth this morning to load refrig-

crated and general cargo for , Britain. British-registered ships due at Lyttelton this month are ithe Norman, Crusader. Elm(bank. City of Birkenhead, i British Maple. Cape Horn, Port Vindex, Nottingham, 'Tasmania Star, Hertford. Port Auckland, Port Quebec, Port Nelson, and the Turakina and Port Montreal, which have 'been on Far Eastern trade [under charter to the Crusader Line. I Six British ships are in Wellington and six more are in Auckland. About 2000 imembers of the N.U.S. are' on the New Zealand coast. Meat Problem Meat exporters in the Auckland province could face difficulties if there is a boycott. Some cool stores are full and others have space to accommodate killings for only two or three weeks. The New Zealand Bureau of Importers said a boycott would be disastrous on the country’s economy. Travellers Delayed Thousands of New Zealandbound travellers are being delayed in Britain as one by one I targe passengers liners are I caught in the strike. The latI est ship affected is the Shaw Savill Line's Southern Cross, which had been scheduled to leave London today for Well-] ington with more than 1100 passengers. Six liners have been delayed. They are the Rangi-I

lane, * Canberra, Orsova, Gothic, Himalaya, and Southern Cross. About 5000 passengers are affected. Another ship, the Ruahine, is due to sail on Friday. If the strike Is extended, the Northern Star (due to sail in July) and the Southern Cross could be in Wellington at the same time. If that happened the timetables of both ships for the next two years could be affected, said a Shaw Savill official.