CASE OF THE OTTAWA VALLEY

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1949, Page 7

CASE OF THE OTTAWA VALLEY

AUCKLAND, July 18. A formal application for a bcrth f"i the, Montreal - Australia - N.Z. ^ Line freighter Ottawa Yalley, now .lying ■•ti the stream at Auckland with 7591 tons of Canadian cargo, is expected to come before the Auckland Harbour Board at its fortniglitly meeting. This move will test the decision of the board 's employees and of the Auckland brancli of the' Waterside Workers' Union, to de^ clare tlie ship blaek on the ground of her Seaf arers ' International Union crew. Nonnally berths are allocated by the harbourmaster after consnltation each morning with the lierthage committee of representatives of ship oing and associated interests. Tn view of the complex pvoblems surrounding the Ottawa Yalley 's berthage as a resnlt of the Canadian Seamen's Union '3 dispute, it is expected that the full i board will deterrnine her movement. The Ottawa Yalley arrived from Montreal on Wednesday night and took her place in the queue of waiting ships. On the following day her crew issued a datemeut that they were "good trade unionists with the interest of Oanada, t,he Canadian mercantile marine and .Lmpxre at heart. " On the same day, following an appeal from the Canadian Seamen's Unon, the national executive of the Transport Workers' Federation announced at recommendation that the Ottawa Yalley shouid , be deelared blaek. Four ships liave precedence over the Ottawa Yalley for berths. They are the phosphate ship Triona, the southern cargo steamers Waipori and Kairanga, and the American freighter Sonoma. It is therefore uncerlain whether a bcrth will be free for the Canadian ship this week.