SUSPENSION OF COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 7 January 1947, Page 8

SUSPENSION OF COMMISSION

! NORMAL WORK IN SMALL PORTS WELLINGTON, Jiin. (i. j As the normal hours of work were ! not resumed on the New Zealand. water ' l'ront toclay the G-overnment issued aij j order tonight suspending the powers | and authorities of the Waterfront l industry Commission with the exception ! oi two- orders governihg the iaboui engagement bureau and the centrai pay ; oiiices. ! This action was in accord with the j ] >ol i c* \- annonnced last weclc by the riiiii'e Alinister (Et. Hon P. Fraserj who gave the Waterside Workers Fnioif until January 6 to resuine normal houi-s of work, after which the Government would suspend the ('omniis sion 's powers. The Go\ ernment 's action involves the cancellatio.i of the protection alT'orded by Ihe ( 'oininission to watersiders by way of wages and conditions of emIployineiit and.it retunis the Avaterfront ind'ustry to tlreVLftihticuushjps obtaining; befoi-e the -a]q)t4|itiTi%iTy>f^i;lie AA;atd.i:- ; froht Gommissioii in 191-9. The bmjeaji system df engagement, Kowever, will be letained in ihe meantinie aiid /no change in the wage ratesds innnediate iy involved. Aleanwhile the watersiders in all porfs have contimied the 40-hour week policy. It is now reported, Jiowever. that within the uhion there is a body of o]>inion in favour of a return to | normal hours to faeilitate a settlement Some interested quarters were anxious tonight to have it made known that the union branches in Picton, ! Nelson, Westport and Greymouth had asked the national exeeutive to resume normal work to promote a settlement. To this report the national secretary (Arr. T. ilill) replied that in all ports men were standing firmly by policy of national exeeutive.

The Alinister of Labour (Hon. A. AfcLagan) stated tonight that it was with regret he had to announee that the Primo Alinister 's ofper to the Waterside Workers' Union to faeilitate the immediate discuSsion of matters in dispute provided normal work was resumo.d 011 th.e waferfront had not been accepted. As the normal liours of work had not been resumed on ihe waterfront in accordance wilh the proposals made bythe Primo Alinister, an order had been Issued suspending the powers and authorities of the Waterfront Industry Commissinu. This order, which comes into forc'e tomorrow, providos for the suspension of all orders, directions and decisions made by the Waterfront Control Uom mission," the Waterfront Industry Gom mission or any port committee o-xcept two orders cnncenting the operation of Ihe labour empiovment bureau and the icentral pay offices and tlie direct ion regarding the administration of the Annual TT-olidays Aet. Certain ports which continued to observe the normal hours of work an excluded from the suspension order and will continue to enjov the vates of wages and conditions of emplovinenl ])rescribed by the Commission. These ports are: Manganui, Whangaroa, Bay of Islancls, Whangarei, Paeroa, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bav, Awanui, Hokiahg'a, Kaij»arai Port 'WaikhtO; £atea; Motu

eka, Takaka and Hokitika. The Ariiiister oxprcsscd the hope that an early resumption of normal hours of Work would still take plhce so that the points in dispute could be. o'xamined and a determination made as te What should be done in conneetion therewith.