Watersiders Fail To Answer Minister's Demand

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1949, Page 2

Watersiders Fail To Answer Minister's Demand

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 21. \ The ultimatum delivered by Mr. McLagan to the New Zealand Watorside Workers' Union on comniissiou control on the waterf ront, expired today. Approached tonight for a statement of his intentions, Mr. M.clagan said he had 110 announceineut to make. The Waterside Union also ha:l nothing to say. The Minister, on April 1, sent a letter to the union indicating that because of maliy stoppages of work on the waterfront during previous weeks, the Government might be compelled to abandou commission control. The letter aske-l that the uxlion decide by secret ballot whether it was in i'avour of a continuance of joint management through commission control or whether it was prepared to accept and abide by all decisions of the Waterfront tndustry Authority. After a meeting of the national executive at which Mr. McLagan 's letter was consid^red, tlu union replied that the policy of the uational council of the union was for a continuance of commission control and that the union would continue to abi le by the decisions of the Waterfroiu Industry Authority providing those decisions were the decisions of the authority and not of any other body. Mr. McLagan, in reply to this state ment, said it was the views of the membership as a whole and not simply of the national council that were of real importance. He said it was be cause the Govehninent wanted to have an undertaking of real value that H had publicly asked for the^ views of members.