PORT DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1938, Page 5

PORT DISPUTE

CRITICISM OF AUCKLAND SHIPOWNERS STATEMENT BY LABOUR LEADERS FEELING AT UNION MEETING RUNS HIGH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. AUCKLAND, November 14. “The matter in dispute concerning the Waiana and Kaimiro should not have held up the Auckland waterfront for a single hour,” said Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, today, after he had seen the port resume its normal activities. This was.the first comprehensive statement made by Mr Roberts, and it was endorsed by the president of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr R. G. Jones, the vice-president, Mr P. Roonan, the walking delegate, Mr W. J. Cuthbert, and also by Mr J. O. Johnson, secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, and a member of the national executive, whq accompanied Mr Roberts to Auckland.

“Certain shipowners in Auckland adopted a dictatorial policy,” said Mr Roberts. “It would not appear that they were troubled one iota about a hold-up of the most important port in the Dominion or about the great loss to the many interests concerned. When I addressed the men on Saturday morning I told them it was their duty to the public, the shippers and to farmers to see that normal working conditions were restored on the Auckland waterfront. It is a matter of great pleasure to me to see that working men do recognize their responsibilities.

“The resumption of work this morning was solely dependent_upon them. The shipowners here did not help in the least to have their ships worked. Mr Roberts added that officials of the Auckland union had done everything in their power to have the ships manned for days before he arrived. “The time has arrived when it should not be in the power of anyone to hold up at their sweet will the most important industry in New Zealand, the sea transport industry.” Mr Roberts declared.

He added that the facts were placed before the national executive of the Waterside Workers’ Federation for the first time on Monday last. The executive discussed it with the principles of the shipping companies who were present at the Conciliation Council meeting in Christchurch about the proposed new award. Investigation showed that the dispute regarding the Waiana and Kaimiro was simply the climax to several incidents which preceded the engagement of labour for these vessels.

Mr Roberts added that feeling ran very high at Saturday’s meeting. The Auckland watersiders were not against the employers as a whole, but against the tactics adopted by one company in particular. However, the men decided by a majority vote to resume today on the terms of the agreement which had been arrived at in the discussions held in the south between the national executive and the principals of the companies.

EMPLOYERS’ VIEW STATEMENT BY MINISTER CHALLENGED ’ WELLINGTON, This Day. The description of the Auckland waterfront dispute by the Minister of Labour, Mr Armstrong, in a statement made at the weekend as “an argument between some waterside workers and the foreman of a shipping company” was incorrect, said Mr W. H. G. Bennett, general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers’ Association, yesterday. Mr Bennett said the question was whether the workers should break awards’ at their pleasure, and the shipping companies should be firmly bound. No body of men should be permitted to force the companies into such a position. The Minister must realize that there was in no circumstances one law for the shipowner and another for the man who handled the cargo. Co-operation and faith in the written or spoken word would bring mutual respect and confidence. DISPUTES COMMITTEE MEETING IN WELLINGTON ON THURSDAY I WELLINGTON, This Day. The national disputes committee, to which the Auckland waterfront dispute is to be referred, will meet in Wellington at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, said Mr W. H. G. Bennett, general secretary of the New Zealand Water- • side Employers’ Association, , yesterday. The local disputes committee met in Auckland on Monday and agreed to refer the grievances to a national Committee.