Mr. McLagan Wants Answers To Questions

Chronicle (Levin), 3 July 1948, Page 7

Mr. McLagan Wants Answers To Questions

Press Associationj

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 2. TJtiirty-one questions deaimg witn various phases of the Auckland waterfront dispute have heen pre-r pared hy the Minister of Lahour (Hon. A. McLagan) for suOmission to the president of the Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. H. Barnes) for him to answer at the public meetlng he is to address in the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday night. The Minister stated tonight tliat as it was desirable that any information concernhig the dispute should Uc adequhte he had drawn up some ques tious which might well *be answered bv Mr. Barnes. The Minister said he would suggest that the answers be clea: and preeise. The questions were being forwarded to tlie Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. A. C. Allum) who lias been announced as chairman of the lueeting in order that 3ie may ensure that an opportunit.v be ,given to Mr. Barnes to answer Them. «A nuiuber of the questions deal with hatches 011 the idle wheat ship Mountpark. In oue ot' theiu the Minister asked was Alr. Barnes aware that until the Auckland waterside workers refused to handle the Mountpark's hatches in Februarv these hatche's had been manhandled for years with coiu plete safety and tliat 110 complaint.s were made to the employers as to any alltged danger. Another asked if Mr. Barnes was aware that tven after his union 's refusal to manhandle these hatches in Februarv they were nuinhandled at fiydney and Wellington with coiuplete safety. Tt was also asked in a furthcr questiou if Mr. Barnes was aware that ii; Febrjyiary members of his union ma;i handled the hatches at Auckland witli rompJete safety and that •oven 011 tln ship's prcsent visit to Auckland some of the hatches were manhandled bv uou-unionist waterside workers with complete safety and without any coniplaint. The Minister aslccd Mr. Barnes would lie deuy that he rofused to abido bv the docision of 'the Waterfront .Industry (.'onmiission that the hatches were safe to manhandle and should be mau handled, and tliat he and other olKcers und members of his union had pledged themselves to abide by the decisions of the Commission. He also asked Mr. Barnes would hc deny that his union pledged itself to ticcept and abide by. the decision of the tribunal which coasidered the Mellington ships carpcnters ' dispute oist veur.' Mr. Barnes was also asked il" he would denv that his union dis honoured its pledge to accept thc tribunal the Goverument ofl'ered to se. up to investigatc and decide whethe; the Mountpark's hatches were safe to handle. bv hand. The Minister asked if a commission of inquirv was set up to go into. the mattor' as Mr. Barnes requested wouid^ he and his union pledge thernselvi s ... abide by its decisions. If such pledge was given did Mr. Barnes eon vider it would be of any morc valu. than his previous pledges? The Minister asked if the union wa satislied that its claims concerning the Mountpark's hatches were right, wh\ had the union uot accepted the (fovern meiit's oll'er of a tribunal with a J udg of the Supreme Oourt as chairman whei. the Minister of Lahour had stated on June 12 that this offer was still open l Questions were also asked of Jlr Barnes about the Broompark's hatches. The klinister also asked Mr." Barnes wa Ite aware that the Mountpark's hatche> were similar to those of hundreds of otlier Liberty t.vpe ships, and that tlie hatches of these ships were mai; handled at ports throughout the world wirhout complaint. He also inquired would Mr. Barnes denv that tlie rate of tururound of ships at Auckland was slower than a any other port in New Zealand. Would Mr. Barnes deny that tlie system o "spelling" in uperation at Auckland was oue of the factors responsible for tlie slow rate of turnround of ships at that port. He also asked if Mr. Barn.nt npproved of this system of "spelling" and if not wliat steps had he taken to advocate its removal.