THE WATERSIDE LABOUR DEADLOCK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1674, 13 February 1917, Page 3

THE WATERSIDE LABOUR DEADLOCK.

SHIPS MUST NOT REMAIN IDLE

AT WHARVES

STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY-

GENERAL

“If Britain and her Allies arc to be victorious, troops must be sent to the battlefield regularly and expeditiously; the people of England must be provided with food; and, at a time when the mercantile marine is being ruthlessly wrecked by the enemy, ships cannot be allowed to remain idle at our wharves. Such a state of affairs would be intolerable. The position is much too serious to allow any troublesome seed ion of the community to dominate the situation and decide for New Zealand whether it shall or shall not be allowed to do its share of the war work'.” Thai is the essence of an interview which a Post reporter had with the Attorney-General (Hon. A. U. Herdman), mi the subject of the War Regulations i.-sued on Friday night hy Gazette Extraordinary, which enable the Government to assume control of the wharves and shipping if necessary. WAR WORK ESSENTIAL. “The regulations,’’ said Mr Herdman. “are exceedingly simple. They can he understood readily hy everyone. We are at. war, lighting for our very existence, and the Government. must firmly and quietly insist that war work shall he diligently and speedily performed. This is the raison d'etre of the new regulations. Al such a lime as the present no self-respecting Government can allow the business of a country to he interrupted hy any section of the community which may imagine that it has a grievance. The Stale has already provided a means by which I lie rights and wrongs of bodies of persons alleging unjust treatment can be investigated. “A FEW MISTAKEN LEADER’S.” “1 am convinced that, hundreds of waterside workers and coalminers in New Zealand are not in sympathy with what may he an organised attempt to hold up the business of the country. 1 believe that they are thoroughly loyal to the Grown, and that they are anxious to play their part like men. The responsibility for the present discreditable position I place upon the shoulders of a few mistaken leaders, and I exonerate (he great hulk of the men irom blame. FLOUTING THE LAW. “The present difficulty exists because after a futile conference with the workers the employers decided that the dispute should he settled in accordance with the law of the country hy the Arbitration Court. The walersiders on the other hand have resolved to sweep the Conciliation Council ami the Arbitration Court, to one side and insist upon selecting a method of settlement which is pleasing to themselves. NO TIME TO WASTE. “The Government cannot look on indefinitely whilst the disputants are. wasting precious days and hours quarrelling, so the Regulations provide machinery which will enable it to take control and enlist the services of willing workers. “The Regulations provide (inter alia ) : 1. That the Government may proclaint a wharf a Government wharf. 2. That the Government may appoint a Controller of a Government wharf. • 3. That the Controller may (dose a wharf, or part of a wharf. 4. That (he Controller may order undesirable persons oil a Government wharf, 5. That when a wharf is closed no person excepting those employed hv the Government ami others shall be allowed on a wharf without the. permission ol the Controller. (i. Thai persons who interfere with the lading or unlading of goods, or the despatch ol vessels, are liable to punishment. IMPORTANT REGULATIONS NOW IN .FORCE. “These Regulations become operative as soon as a wharf is proclaimed a Government wharf, and as soon as a Controller is appointed. But there is one new regulation which is in force now and which should he carefully considered and understood hy persons interested in waterfront work. “If roads as follows : —‘Every person who conspires with any other person to prevent,, delay, or otherwise interfere with the proper loading, unloading, or despatch of any vessel, whether lying at a Government wharf or not, or who does any act or publishes (whether to any person or persons or to the public at large) .■any utterance intended to prevent, delay, or otherwise interfere with the proper loading, unloading, or despatch of any vessel, .whether lying at a Government wharf or not, shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations, and shall he liable accordingly.’

“The person who commits a breach of this regulation is liable to a fine of £IOO or 12 months'* imprisonment.’ APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM.

“I sincerely hope that the action which the Government is taking will enable New Zealand to go through this war to the end with credit. So far she has played her part nobly, and her soldiers have won everlasting fame. It will be a calamity if, when the war has readied a supremely critical stage, and our best help is most urgently needed, we are prevented from putting forth our greatest strength by any unseemly industrial quarrel.”