WATERFRONT WORK RESUMES

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 3

WATERFRONT WORK RESUMES

-Press Association

MANNING PRIORITY ON VESSEL REMOVED

Bv Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, April 10. After a loss of three working days, waterfront operations were resumed at Auckland at 1 p.ni. The resumption was the result of a decision by the Acting Minister of Labour (Hon. J". 0 '.Brien) who gave directions for ca'ncellation of labour on the dispute ship, the cement-carrying Herekino, providing. that work 011 all other vessels was continued. The eft'ect of this action was that the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union has gained its initial claim — the removal of manui ng priority 011 the Herekino. In a statement reviewing the dispute, Mr. O'Brieu said that unfortuuately the uuion iiad seen ILt to extend it to all ships in ports. In view of tlxe large number of overseas vessels in Auckland and the vital need for shipping foodstuli's to England, he had taken action in the dispute. "The questiou of priority of the working of cargoes is a matter for the Government, which will be the sole authority for priority in future," added Mr. O 'Brien.

> Following the annual stopwork meeting of the union this morning, the waterfront workers returned to the ships for a 1 o'clock start. They faeed a volume oi work which will keep the port extremely busv for many weeks. The first demand to liandle the volume of cargoes is for an augmented labour forec. Today 550 meu were requirod. In addition to those unioriists who were working when the. dispute began on Saturday morning, the union supplied 150 of this total and non-unionists a further 175, leaving 225 men short of the number nceded. 'The Waterfront Controller, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, stated that the labour rcquirements continue to be lieavy and called for more non-union workers to cope with the requirements. Port officials consider that the combiued eifeets of the shipping infLux, the lcss of working time and the coming Easter and Anzac Day liolidays will make it difficult to clear the waterfront of the congestion before early next mouth. Toinorrow 10 overseas ships will be in port, five of tliem in the streara.