REPORTED OUTCOME OF GOVERNMENT REWRITING OF DECISION OF COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 6

REPORTED OUTCOME OF GOVERNMENT REWRITING OF DECISION OF COMMISSION

-Press Association

. By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. Mr. Justice Ongley, chairman of the Waterfront Industry Commission, is understood to have handed his resignation to the Government yesterday. This aimouiieement is not oificial but it is expected to be eonfirmed withm the next few days. His ilonour's position has beeome untenable since the government decided this week to rewrite his decision on the guaranteed wage for watersiders. The Waterfront Commission will be reconstituted on a new basis arid with new personnel. Special regulat'ions providing for this- and perniitting the Minister of Labour to amend the guaranteed wage order, are being prepared and will, it is understood,. be introdueed by Order-in-Couneil. The reconstituted Commission will require some replacements among present members. Neither the employers' representatives, Messrs K. A. Belford and G. L. Almond, nor the workers' representatives, Messrs H. Barnes and J. Flood have indicated any intention of resigning. Mr. Belford has publicly declared that he will not resign and the union representatives are reported to have said that tliey have 110 power to do. so. If any members of the Commission are to be moved, therefore, Government action will be necessary. Law draftsmen are reported to be working on the regulations which will eover all aspects of the unusual situation which has devcloped. M'eanwhile an official statemeiit of the agreement reached- this week between the Government and N'cav Zealand Waterside Workers' Union on the uhion's grievances/ has been delayed and may not be made until next week. The Minister of Labour, Hon. A. McLagan, has left for Christchurch. Mr. Belford, as an employers' representative, has declared that the Government 's agreement with the union is a complete capitulation. He and Captain M. T. Holin, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers' Association have stated that the Government has not informed thein of the agreement reached with the union. It was now reported that a guaranteed wage will be provided on a weekly basis and not l'our weekly as in the judgment issucd \yy Mr. Ongley on November 28.

Decision Torn Aside. "1 have -no information on the negotiations or agreement, but from the Press it looks as though the union has everything it wants," said the secretary of tlu Waterside Employers' Association (Captain M. T. Holm). "Legislation set up a Commission to adjudicate in these matters, the Commission gave a decision, and the Government now tears that decision asidc. The employers have not been consulted on the latest reported agreement, and we have had no meeting reccntly with the Government." Captain Holm expressed the hope that the grcater mobility oi labour allowed under the Commission 's amendment of clauses 17. 20 and 22 would be retaihed as that mobility was necded on the waterfront.