WHARF WORKERS AS KEY SABOTEURS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 May 1946, Page 2

WHARF WORKERS AS KEY SABOTEURS

rr -Press Association

PREVENT SHIPPING OF vital FOODS

By Telegravh-

NEW PLYMOUTH, Mav 9. Labvlling a certaiu soctioii of wateriiiile workors in New Zealaiul as " key sabotcurs liolding up the eil'orts of the eounlry to tlie detriment of world pcacc and economy, " Mr. E. B* Cor-Oi-tt, M.P., at a ward confercnce of the New Zealand Dairy Board at Stratford staled that New Zealand ports v.cre bottlenecks prevculing Ihe shipping oi \ itally needed food to Great Britaiu and Europc. The discussion arose following consiileratiou of a, remit from the Awatuna Co-operutive Dairy Compauy, Ltd., puinting out tlie cliuotic positiou of dairy farmers because of freczing coinptuiies ' inability to accept culi cows during tlie autumn.- Speakiug to the remit, Mr.. F. Brimelow stuted that i'or '13 ueeks it had been impossibie to, lia\ e cull cows agcepted by the Waitara .freczing works. , Seconding the motion, Mr. J. S. Tosland, Pihama, -maiutahied that the probleni all 4 came back to the matter of laboiir. lle urged that the works i)c kept opea irrespective of Jabour disputes and the 10-hour week. At this stage, Mr. L. J. Ruudlo gave details of the positiou and expressed his dpinion in couimittee. A11 overseas vessel lay at the wliarf at New Plymouth during Easter and nolhing was done to it nor could the Waitara froeziug works have .t'reight •arcases loaded because the waterside workers refused to work, said Mr. Cofbett. "It is the wliarves of New Zealand which are the bottlenecks and it is regrettal.de for Mr. Kundle to suggost that some of the blaine for these liold-ups sliould uot be placed on workers whoni it cone erua, " continued Alr. Corbett. "1 wish to make known [Uiblkdy that some of the workers in this eouutry are absolutely disloyaJ to the entire ainis of peace. "Wliat is the use of having ratiouing and volun'tary appeals if the food so saved is being delayed iudcliuitely at New Zealand ports?" asked Mr. Corbett. ' " Food is wanted now, uot at some timo in the indclinite future. " The faull, he said, lay uot with the freczing" workers but with certaiu key satobeurs makiug the wliarves bottlenecks. The acting chairman of tlie New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr. A. Juntoii, stated that a shipping company nuuiager at New Plymouth had iut'onned hini that the positiou at the New Plymouth wliarf was so chaotic that a ship to have been loaded with freight from Waitara was seut to Wellington and the c'arcases were returned to Waitara and subseqvieutly railed to Wellington. Refetring to the remit which was carried, Mr. Linton gave an assuranee that as soon as he returnedNto Wellington he would draw the attention of the Meat Board to the matter.