Delicate Situation Arises At Auckland Wharf

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1949, Page 5

Delicate Situation Arises At Auckland Wharf

Press Association)

(Per

AUCKLAND, July 22. The Canadian steamer Cttawa Yallev which has been declared black by several Auckland, transport nnions ag a resiilt of the Canadian seamen's d;s^ pute will probably remain at anchor in the stream until the dispute is settled. It is understood that instructions that the steamer should rennon ac anchor weie received dt the Auckland . tlarbour Board from the Government this aftei'noon. Fears of serious industrial trouble which would have followed the berthing of the Cttawa Yalley have been dispelled bv the decision. In spite of the decision of the Auckland branch of the Harbour Boards Fmplovees ' Union not to handle the ship it was possible that the steamer would have • been brought alongside the wharf at the weekend without tugs and without the services of the board 's linesmen. If the ship had been berthed the Harbour Board crane drivers would have refused their services and members of the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union would not have handled the Auckland cargo of newsprint and general goods. By a maiority vote members of the Auckland Harbour Board decided at their meeting on Tuesday that the Board had a dutv to perform in providing berthage space and offered a bertli to the Cttawa Yallev when its t'ui'n came. Union members on the Board warned the Board that this action might precipitate farrearching consequences. Although no definite reason for the Government 's attitude could be obtained today it was suggest.ed that it was alreadv fullv pccupied with the handling of the "no overtime" dispute on the Auckland and southern wharves and that it could not welcoige a spread iii industrial unrest on the waterfrtmts.