PRESTIGE OF LEADERS OF WATERSIDERS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1947, Page 5

PRESTIGE OF LEADERS OF WATERSIDERS

, -Press Association

MR. BARNETS SAID TO BE WELL ENTRENCHED

By Telegraph

WELLING-TGN, -June 22. In L'abour •eire4.es in Wellington, tiiete are growing hopeS among tbe eriti'cs o'f 'tlie present lead'el'sliip -of tlre New Zea'and Waterside Workers' Union tb'at '•onsiderable number s of the memb'ers of 'that organ'isation will oppose th'e prin cipal officials. At fhe Jnoment, h'owever, the expee tation seems to be nebulous, and -devoi-d •of a eoTe uf realify, It 1ms -been fired •by the controversie's which have •develO'ped between fhe Minister of Works (Mr, Semple) nnd the Minister 'of Labwt •(Mr. AlcL'agaAi), -on the 'side 'of the 'Government and the La'bour Party, and lea'ding officials of the union, The general opinion seems to be that both hlinisters have emerged from the 'conflict, a'ltlvou-gh it may not yet be finished, with ffy-ing colours. 'There is -no doubt that they have received ;a good deal of publie approval, :iu addlt-ion to the expressi'ons of eonlidmxce ueeorded them at the LaboUr Party 'e'ont^renee. Allied With this opinion. -is n widespread impression that ihe Waters'iders ' leadeTship, or at leas't the natioiial president of the union (Mr. H. B'arnes) is now so committed by Word, if nO't by deed, tha't any reconci'liation with the 'Government and the party is out of the qucstion. Union pundits, in partieul'aT, cannot see hovv any truce, let alone a peac-e, is .possible. When the question o'f the possibility that' Mr. Barnes is "linished" as a lea-der is put to trades union officials, the knowing ones are- inclined to look mysterious and to speak vaguely. They claim that Mr. Barnes' position was in je.opardy when tlie battle between the Government and the union developed during the waterfront dispute in December and January. Against this, of course, is the fa'et. that Mr.'. Barnes and liis associates survived t'hat cris-is. More than that, tliey won concpssions from the Government, and it is generally .•onsidered tliat their, prestige among" union members increased rather than diniinished. In other words, a winncr has a popularity. The optiinism among some people put aside, the general impression is that Mr.' Barnes is rather well entrenched. No •signs have yet appeared of union resentment of -his conflict with Mr 'Semple after 'he did not meef tlre Minister in debate at fhe Labour Party eonference. But the knowing ones think that tliis resentment is suie to come, saone'r or later.