NEITHER SIDE PREPARED TO MOVE GROUND

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1946, Page 4

NEITHER SIDE PREPARED TO MOVE GROUND

■Press Association

Tp.l.earanh —

WELLINGTON, Uec. 4. While goods accumulated in wharf sheds and stores throughout New Zealand and shipping schedules were be-| ing hastily withdrawn in head oflives today, the Waterfront Industry Oommission made an abortive attempt to settle the wages dispute between watersiders and employers. The Commi.ssion failed to aehieve any settlement and adjourned until December 16 • Cobinet intervention is now awaited as a likely move. The ehairman of the Waterfront Industry Commission, Mr. Justicfe Ongley Said tonight that the Commission simply got "nowhere today. He called it together for the express purposg of eohsidering the situation which had arisen since the guaranteed wage decision was announced. Neither party. however, was prepared to move ground at all. Nothing whatevcr could be achieved ahd the Commission tlierefore adjourned until the next ordinarv meeting on December 16. Meanwhile union branches at ports throughout New Zealand acted upon the direction of the national executive which ordered the immediate introduction of the 40-hour five-day week with work only from S a.m. to 5 p.m., until reasonable satisfaction of current de mands eould be achieved. Seven ships( carrving cargo, in addi tion to the ferries, sailed from Wellington today. Colliers wero discharging today. There is not an immediate tlireat of a coal shortage.

A further revision of the schedules for overseas shipping has been necessary. The Hindustan which was to'havc saiied for Auckland on Saturday, will now leave on Monday. The Port Alma which was to have sailed on Friday for Napier and tlien to London, will no1 leave for Napier before December 10 The shortage of labour on the water lTonts is causing concern and arrange ments are being made for universit.-s students and secondarv schoolbovs to do part-time work as in the past.