WATERSIDERS DOWN TOOLS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 April 1946, Page 8

WATERSIDERS DOWN TOOLS

-Press ( Association

WORK STOPS AT AUCKLAND WATERFRONT DISPUTE

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, April 7. The Auckland watersiders ce.ased work at 9.30 0 'clock yesierday'morning although they usually work until moon on Saturdays. The dispute arose when a gang was assigned to work the coastal vessel Herekino, operated hy the Wilson Portland Gement Company. The watersiders considered the Herekino not in the urgent category beeause of tlie presence in port of food-ships for Britain so they refused to work the Herekino although it had heen declared urgent hy the Waterfront Control Commission. Beeause of their refusal to work the Herekino the gang was penalised by'the commission and as a result, all the watersiders downed tools. It was stated that the position would be reviewed on Monday morning. Although rain prevented much work from heing done on the waterfront yesItrday morning the stoppage by the watersiders is expeeted to cause further congestion in an already over-erowded port.The dispute involves ahout 15-0.0 watersiders. The pffesident of the Auckland Watersiders' ITnion (Mr. H. Barn-es) said that overseas vessels in the past weelc had not heen fully manned hecause of an aeute shortage of -lahou-r dne especially to the husy state of tlie port. If the waterfront rules had heen followed tliere would have heen no-union labour availahle for the Herekino 'and the labour would have heen allotted to overseas shipping. The nnion protosted against the rules heing ifroken in favour of a small coastal vessel like the Herekino, hut the union was advised that the Waterfront -Control Commission reserVed the right to declai'e any ship preference. "The flhip Emergency Reg-ulations empowering the commission are probahly wider and more arhitrary than any other regulations hrought down in this country," ^Tr. Barnes .added. "While there may have heen a good ease for such TCgtilations during the war periods, we are not prepared to see them earriod on and practised -as our post-war new order," Mr. Barnes declared. Tnterviewed, the Auckland Waterfiont Controller (kfr. AV. .T. Cuthbert) said the commission at present was the only authority to determine which vessels should liave prioriy lahour. It was untrue thaf vessels loading for Great Britain were affeeted through any shortage of lahour at pr-esent. However, for some considerahle time, and especially 'during the past w-eek, manv overseas vessels -had heen affeeted through a shortage of lahour hrought ahout mainly hy the watersiders exercising their right to cease work at 5 p.m. each day. In' view of the shortage of cement for urgent building pur: poses and the wish of the companyconcerned to despateh the vessel to load further supplies, it was considered in the best interest of all con.eerned to have lier manned hy union lahour at 8 a.m. All-Berths Occupied. The dispute has ocourr-ed at a timo when the waterfron-t is extretnely husy. Last week all berths .were occupied, the vessojsvinclufting fhree ships. loading food for Britain, and one ship was waitting in tlie stream on Raturday. Three ships will he at anchor in the morning, tlie -Esparta, waiting to load for Britain, the 8ocotra, with cargo from Los Angelos and the Papeete, and the Empire Abercorn, which will move to the anchorage from 'the Western wharf ahout noon and then wait for a berth to load for the United Kingdom. These ships will he joined during the day hy the Citv of Glasgow,' hringing cargo from Svdnev. Bj' Tuesday the total will he inoreased to six. Refrigerated cargoes hrought to the "wharves for loading in the food ships Pipiriki, Karamea and Plying Dragon 01: Saturday had to he xeturnerl to store where reconditioriing will he necessary before it can again be taken to the waterfront. Two colliers which would normally have diseharged their urgently needed cargoes on Raturday remained idle.