WATERSIDERS IGNORE GOVERNMENT FIAT

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5295, 7 January 1947, Page 5

WATERSIDERS IGNORE GOVERNMENT FIAT

(Press Assn.-

COMMISSION'S FOWERS AND AUTHORITY SUSPENDED ' !

-By Telegraph — Copyrigkt.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Minister of Labour, Mr. A. McLagan, stated to-night that it was with regret that he had to announce that the Prime Minister's cEer to the New Zealand x Waterside Workers' Union to facilitate an immediate discussion of the matters in dispute provided normal work was resumed on the v aterfront had not been accepted.

As the normal hours of work had not been resumed on the waterfront in accordance with the proposals made by the Prime . Minister, an order has been issued suspending the powers and authorities of the Waterfront Industry Commission. This order, which comes into force, to-morrow, January 7, 1947, provides for the suspension of all orders, directions and decisions made by the Waterfront Control Commission, the Waterfront Industry Commission, or any Port Committee ' except two orders concerning the operation cf the Labour Employment Bureau and central pay offices and the direction regarding the administration of the annual holiday. Certain ports which have continued to observe the normal hours of work are excluded from the suspension order and will continue to enjoy the rates and wages and conditions of employment prescribed by the Commission. ! These ports are Wanganui, Whangaroa, Bay.of Islands, Whangarei, Paeroa, Tauranga, Whakatane, •Opotiki, Tokamaru Bay, Tolaga Bay, Awanui, Hokianga, Kaipara, Port Waikato, Patea, Motueka, Takaka and Hokitika. The Minister expressed the hope that the normal hours of work would still take place so that points in dispute could be examined and a determination made as to what should be done in connection therewith. F.O.L. Urges Work Resumption The Secretary of the Federation of Labour, Mr. K. Baxter, stated this cvening: "A meeting called at the request of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the New Zealand Workers' Union, the Railway Tradesmen's Assoeiation, the United Mine Workers' the Engineers, Drivers, Firemen, and Cledners' Assoeiation, the New Zealand Federated Seamen's Union, and the New Zealand Cooks' and Stewards' Union all affiliated to the Federation of Labour had to-day unanimously carried a resoluticn endorsing the statement by the Federation of Labour dated December 24, 1946, recommending the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union that they resume normal work and hand the dispute over immediately to the New Zealand Federation

of Labour with a view to bringing about a satisfacto-ry statement." Mr. Baxter said that he had com-. nr nicated the text of the resolution -to Mr. T. .Hill, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union: Ke also stated that the Federation of Labour was satisfied that if the dispute was handed over to the Federation for negotiation and nbrmal work on the waterfront resumed/ the pm'nts in dispute could be -settled at an early date to the satisf action of, thc waterside workers and the Labour Movement. A Christchurch message says that although waterside labnur at' Lyttelton was ordered back for 6 p.m. to-night, and although ttye 6 c-'clock whjstle blew as usual, the prcceedings were just a formality for there was no response by the watersiders, and none was expected. There are rumours also that the men woulid' xefuse to work to-morrow. There is little support for these rcmours, however, and it is expected that the men will in the meantime continue to work restrlicted hours. When questionecl to-day as to what would happen to-morrow, the secretary of the Lyttelton branch of the union, Mr. J. Flood; declined to make - any statement: "Let to-morrow take care of itself," he said. A Dunedin message states: "No work was done on the Dunedin waterfront to-night. 'Labour was called for two shifts at 6 p.m. but the wharves then were almost deserted, and therej was no response. The secretary of the Dunedin Watersiders7 Union said: "The lunion is just stan'ding by," beyond which h'e would make no comment on the position. Maoris May Work Ihe Wharves HASTINGS, last night. Should the waterfront dispute devclop so that the Government is fcrced to call on volunteer labour to man the wharves, supporrt may be forthcoming from the Maori population of Hawke's Bay and the East Coast. The organiser for 32. industries amongst the Maori people, Mr. R. Tutaki, has communicated with a number of East" Coast Maori leaders, . suggesting that an early meetrng should be held to discuss the position, and he advised the Maori people to support the Government in any stand that it might take against the waterside workers in the present crieis.