Judge As Witness Before Mountpark Tribunal

Chronicle (Levin), 6 August 1948, Page 2

Judge As Witness Before Mountpark Tribunal

A UCKIjAND, Augnst 5. The chaii'inari of tlre Waterfront Ln(lustry ('ominirtpion/ Judge Dalgliah, gave evidence for four hours before tli .Uouiilpark Tribunal today iiiimediatelv after Mr. Watsoii, senior coimscl for the (,'ominission, had completed his address and he was still under erossexainination by Mr. II. Barnes, repre-'i sentiug the Waterside Workers ' I'uion. when tlie heariiig; was adjourned. The inquirv will enter its tent h dav toiuorrow. Between 200,000 and 2.)0,0U0 words of evidence and subniissions have already been recorded. A further sis witnesses are expeeted to be called for the Oommission before Mr. Barnes makes his final address aud possibl,. calls further witnesses. Developments in the dispute since February 19, were traced by Judge L)uiglisli. lle described decisions made i»v Ihe coinmission, outlined reports approving the Mountpark hatches that were obtained from otMcers qf Ihe Marine Hepartment, and said he had made no request for the union to witlidraw L'ourt proceedings when it. was proposed to contest the dismissal of tlie luen wlio refused to work the ship, noi had he given auy promisc to provide men with hoolcs as Mr. Barnes had claimed. Witness stated that on Juiu23 all members of the Coinmission felt that something must be done. He starto'd drafling a memoranduin for the Minister of Labour but in the evening he liad an opportuuity of discussing the matter with the Minister and e.xpressing to him the view that the Mountpark sliould be made a preference ship. H«> also wished to learn, in view of ncgotia tions carried out with the Ctovernmcnt whether the Government objected to this action being taken. The Minister had stated that he would have to dis cuss the matter with other members ot the Government. On the following da> witness eontinued the preparation oi the memoranduin, outlining the view* he had expressed to the Minister. ll was discussed with other members o. the Coinmission and was awaiting hi* signature in its final form when he wa,; informed that the Government had no objeeti on to the action which he hau informed the Minister should be taken He tlien told other members of thCoinmission that it was now unneeessan. to send a memoranduin as the Govern inent had .approved making the Mount park a preference ship. Mr. O'DonneU union representati ve on tlve Commis sion, immediately interpreted this as lneaning tliat the Government had made the decision.