Ministers Corrects Union Representative

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1948, Page 3

Ministers Corrects Union Representative

Press Association)

(Per

W ELL1N (xTUJN , July 1. Referring to a statement made by Mr. R. J. O'Donnell, formerly a member of tlie Waterfront Industry Commission, the Minister of Labour (Mr. McLagan) stated tonight that the letter from the Marine Department regarding the union 's proposal that the top hatches on all overseas and ' intercolonial ships should be made into slabs, was sent by a subordinate otficer of the Marine Department who had been interviewed by uhion oliicials. The matter was apparently considered of so little importanco that the letter was pigeon-holed and not referred to the liead of the Department or to the (lovernment. The oificer concerned had no authority to say that the generai harbour regulations would be amendetl and as the matter is one of international significauee, the regulations could not in any casc be amended by the Government without consuitation wirh other eountries. Regarding the "absurd allegation" that the Mountpark preference order was a Government move rather than the true deeision of the Commission, the Minister stated that the Commission had" received an application from the employers on May 24 to declare , the Mountpark a preference sliip.- After' hearing Messrs. Barnes and Hill in respect of tliis application, the ' Commission decided to make thc Mountpark a preference ship on May 27 unless before that time the union indicatea that its menibers would handle the hatches in the normal manner without the assistance of legs or hooks. Tliis deeision, of wliieh Mr. O'Donnell was well aware, was uot put into effect on May 27 bccauso the union 's representatives asked thc Government to inlerveno to briug about a settlemeut of the dispute. After discussions with the union aifd employeix, tlie Government offered to set up a tribunal to settle the dispute. This was agreod to by tlie union. and employers, bu(. witliin a verv short time the union repudiated its agreements The employers thereupon made a furtber application to have the Mountpark deelared a preference ship. The Government was advised by the chairman of thc Commission that, in his opinion, action should be takeu to declare the Mountpark a preference ship and this action was taken by tlie Commission. The chairman told ilr. O'Donnell that lie had so advised tlie Government, yct Mr. O'Donnell stili asked "who made the reeomiueudation" and said he would report to the union that the preference deeision was made by the Government and not by the Oommissiou. Regarding the hatch allowance of :!s under thc contracting systein, tlie Minister stated that he was advised by the Comniission that this applied only in respect to overseas vessels ana only for the removal and replaeement of hatches at the beginning and end of a day. The handling of hatches by hooks took approximately 45 minutes againijt. 15 minutes .bv hand, and tjie use of hooks would appreciably delay t.he turn rouud of. ships.