Removal Of Members From Waterside Commission

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1949, Page 5

Removal Of Members From Waterside Commission

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Fnaay, 10.20 p.m. SYDNEY, May 13. Trades= Hall circles fear that a '• waterfront upheaval may he precipitated hy any move for the dissolution of the Stevedoring Industry Commission. A speeial meeting of the Federal executlve of the Waterside Workers' Federation is considering action over the reonoval hy the Federal Government of its two representatives on the Commission, It was stated in Canberra today that no time limit liad been fixed' by the Government for the watersiders to ap point two new representatives to the Commission. Failure by the • water siders to appoint new representatives would automatically mean the end of the Commission aft-er whieh the water fropt industrv would Teturn to the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Coui't. An earlier message said the Federal Cabinet has deeided to cancel Mhe apoointment of Me.ssrs. .1. Healv aud E Roach as members of the Cbmmonwealth Stevedoring Industry Commis sion. Mr. Healy.is general secretary, and Mr. Roach assistant general secre tary, of the Waterside Workers' Fed eration, whieh they "nave represented an Ihe Commission. The Cabinet deeided that the federation should be asked to nominate two members to take their place. Both men are Communists, and the Government 's action is interpreted f.s a further challenge to the Communist Partv. Messrs. Roach and Healy had proviously refused to give an undertaking that they would cooperate with ihe main body of the Commission in its deeisions. The ehairman of the Commission (Mr. Justiee Kirby) demanded Gie undertaking after they supported Ihe watevvront strike last monlh over the gaoling of Mr. L. J. McPhillips. The hlinister of Shipping (Senator W. P. Ashley( said that the watersiders should give^ the undertaking or risk losing the "Commission and the hene fits that fiow from it. " The Federal council of the Waterside Workers' Federation deeided that. the undertaking should not be given. The first Stevedoring Tndustrv Com mission was set'up by the Cnrtin Gov ernment under the National Seeuritv Regulations to organise and control waterside operations in Australia. Tlvpresent body was constituted under legislation passed in Deeember, 1947. With Mr. Justiee Kirbv are delegale? from the overseas aud Australian shipping iute.escs and the Commonwealth and vwc I'cp-caentatives of the watersl . s.