BLOW AT CRITICAL TIME

Chronicle (Levin), 14 July 1949, Page 7

BLOW AT CRITICAL TIME

(N.Z.P.A,

—Reuter.

Dockers Gravely Threaten Britain's Economy

Covyright)

Received Tnursday, 10.40 a.m. -LONDON, July 13. Tlie situation caused by the dock strike was such asHo injure gravely Britain's economy at a critical period of its history, the Ptinie Minister, Mr. " Attlee, said in -the House of Commons today. He was moving a resolution thanking the King for his message .on the proclamation of the state of emergency. He said that the dockers' sense of loyalty to their fellow workers was misguided in this case, and was being unscrupulously exploited. The strike was contrary to the decisions of the two responsible unions. \ Mr. Attlee said he had been advised by the president of the Trades and Labour Congress in Canada that the strike of the Canadian Seamen's Union was not recognised by the Trades and Labour Congress in Canada. If the two Canadian ships at the London docks had been unloaded by troops as a means of avoiding the trouble, it would have been an acceptance of the claim by the unofficial strike leaders that they

were.to deeide what ships should be worked, contmued Mr. Attlee. The dock workers were being used as tools for reasons that had nothing to do with them, their relations with the employers or their pay, working hours or conditions. "The cause of this trouble lies outside this country. This is no dispute between employers and employees. "The Canadian seamen want to go home. Let the dockers discharge the cargoes, get to work and cease to allow t'hemselves to be draggecB for ulterior motives into a quarrel which is none of theirs."