INVESTIGATION URGED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 11

INVESTIGATION URGED.

INTO LABOUR CONDITIONS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 25. That the Government be asked to set up a Royal Commission to investigate waterfront labour conditions in New Zealand was a decision made by the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand at a meeting to-day. It was reported that the association had communicated with the Government urging it “to take immediate 6teps to stop hold-ups on the waterfront and elsewhere, which interfered with the Dominion’s general trade and put importers and shipping companies to unnecessary and often at times very heavy expense.” The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), in reply, stated that the Government would at all times co-op-erate with shipowners and others concerned to ensure that the industry in the country was carried on without interruption under reasonable condition*. It was further stated that Auckland Chamber had forwarded complaints to the association from a number of independent sources that the rates of discharge of cargo were generally so slow that, on numerous occasions, a considerable proportion of the cargo consigned to Auckland from North America by Matson liners—certain of it perishable—had had to be carried on to Sydney and returned by the vessel on its reverse voyage, with consequent great loss and inconvenience. The association had conveyed these complaints to the Government and the Minister of Labour had replied that the Government was desirous mat work on the waterfront should be performed efficiently, and that the matter would receive full consideration. The meeting took a serious view or tlie position and adopted the suggestion by the Auckland Chamber _ that the Government be asked to appoint a ItoyaL Commission to inquire into tne matter.