Commission's Finding On Auckland Dispute

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1948, Page 4

Commission's Finding On Auckland Dispute

WELLINGTON, Feb. 29. With refcrence to the " Mountpark ,f dis'pute at Auckland, the chairman of tlie Waterfront Industry Commission, .fudge Dalglish, stated tonight that seven gangs were dismissed by the Fnion Steamship Co.,.Ltd., for refusing o reiuove the Iiatch coyers on this vessel, tlie rnen claiming they were too heavy and not saf'e to luindle owing to their' awkwardness, and should be made ;n(o slabs. The authority for this to be done. could only be given by tlne owners of the vessel q\-erseas. * The matter was not rel'erred to the Auckland port cominittee but negotiations were entered into with the company's agents and then were dismissed. withuit refereuce to tlie. cqnimigsiojiO This wgs the sixth visit. of thg ship fdiAuekJand and on preyi.rtus' qccasiojls-1 She hatches had been.?liandled by,- ./ h e men. i'Ngvj&Ttheless, tvhilst. -a; seut|iapce of doubt existed safety if the hatches on the ship, the Connnis sion was reluctant to take action ■ against the men for failing to luindle he hatches. For that reason, whhn the '■ 'onuuission issued a decision in Auckland on Wednesday last requiring the men to resume on the following day, the lci-isiou. prqvided that legs with hooks attached should ]>e used to take off and replace individual hatches until every !ten harl lieen taken to be certain that the hatches eomplied with Government egulations. An independent inspection •irranged by tlie Commission, had been nade and a certificate now had been received by the Commission from the Marine Department eertifving that the 'latchos comply in every respect with Ihe Government regulations and are safe to handle. In the circumstances the Commission will cal] on the men who had previouslv been dismissed on this ship, to resume work on the ship pn Monday morniug. In eoneiusion the chairman of the J f Commission stated that in the opinion Jj of the Commission there Was absolutely { no justification" for an extension by the union of eitlier the "Cape York" dispute or this dispnte in introdueiiig the five-day 40-hpur week to all vessels in the port- of Auckland.