AUCKLAND WHARVES STILL IDLE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1946, Page 6

AUCKLAND WHARVES STILL IDLE

-Press Association

CHALLENGE TO RIGHTS OF COMMISSION

Bv Telegravh-

AUCKLAND, April 8. Por tlie second day all work on the Auckland ' waterfront ceased at 10 0 'clock this morning to enable linionists to attend a stopwork lneeting, following one on Saturday morniiig, whcn the dis pute between 'the Auckland branch 01 the Waterside Worlcers ' Union and tlie Waterfront Control Commission bver the priority of the coastal vessel Here kino was opeued, Tlie men did not re-: turn to theiir ships after tlie meeting. The stopwork meeting followed a conference between tlie Union executi ve and the Auckland Waterfront Controller (Mr. W. J. Cuthbert). A further meeting of the union will be held in the nidrning at 'S o'clock. Tliis morning onlv union men wiio had been employed 011 Saturday reporcod to their old jobs, 110 extra union or any non-union workers being engaged. Shortlv after work had started tho Waterfront Controller met tlie union exocutive. After tlie meeting, Mr. Cuthbcr! stated in an interview that lie had at temled it to negotiate a settlenient and had heard certain proposals from the union. Ile had requested time to discuss them witli the Commissioners in Wel lington, but almost immediately aflei he left tlie meeting tlie men were ca.'led otr their jobs 'and sliovtly afterwards went liomc. The union had not advised tlie Controller wliy it had taken tliis aetion and wliy tlie men did not resttme work. "The union has taken an arbitrary actiou," said Mr. Cuthbert, "and has ignored the machihery laid dovvn for the peaceful settlenient of disputes. The\ were entitled to ask for a meeting ot the disputes committee if they were ag .grieved over anv niatter, and this would have 'been granted. A pxocedure could have been .established for settling tlie dispute without in vol-ving tlie. member ship of the union." The chairnian of the Waterfront C011 trol Commission, Captaiu IL U. Price who arrived from Wellington on Satur day, reviowed tlie position in an inter view, stating that the Commission had to be the authoritv to detennine the preference in nianning ships. "The issue, briellv stated, is that tlie union objects to the Commission deter miniug tlie priority of working urgeni ships," said Capt. Price. "Tlie reguhi tions under which tliu Commissioii oporates eonfer 011 it the powcr lo do any tliing necessary to , expedite shijqnug and obviously it is the prerogative pl tlie Comhiission- to decide which vesselare the more urgent and mau them, aceordhrgly. "Prior to Commission control t lii * was the sole responsiliility of the ship ping c.ompanie's; ne\ er has it been ;Uu* union 's prerogative to decide eiflier whai sliips shouid be maniied or in whai manner. Tlre union was alivays been notified, hpwever, wlien it was neces Lsary to 1 e']birt froiu the geiie'ra'lVhstdm and man' sliips as tliey arrived, becaust of the urge'ncy either of Ihe ship or the. cargo. "The public will readily appreciat" therefore, " continued Capt. Price ' ' that (his actiou 011 the part of th" union belies the expressed intenti'on ct its president of : expediting overseas food sliips for Britgin. " 1 'The liijj on-'pl'esitleiit . 'quite . under stands what the position ivould be," said Mr. Barnes wlien Captaiu Price 's statement was referrcd to him. "Tf tlu price of liaving Conimission control is government in, poacetime by wartime legislation, then thev can start rollingup the Commission riglit now. " Mr. Barnes said lie had no comment to make on Mr. Cuthbert 's remarks.