WATERFRONT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1938, Page 5

WATERFRONT WORK

INQUIRY BY COMMISSION. SUPPORTED BY IMPORTERS AND PRODUCERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Unanimous support for a motion, urging the Government to set up a Royal Commission to investigate waterfront conditions in the Dominion, was given by the annual' meeting of the New Zealand Importers’ Federation in Wellington yesterday. Mr H. G,. Thomson moved the motion, which referred to “the extremely unsatisfactory and worsening state of affairs on the waterfront, culminating in the recent holdup at Auckland and its serious effects on the interests of importers and the community generally.” The motion also referred to “the unenviable reputation of Dominion ports in overseas shipping circles and the difficulty of investigating reports of undesirable practices in waterfront work” as further showing the necessity for full inquiry by a Royal Commission.

Mr Thomson said he wished to make it quite clear that they were not taking side's regarding the position. They had made investigations in Auckland, but could not get at the root of things or judge where the fault lay. There was, however, no doubt that a very undesirable state of affairs existed at present. The motion was seconded by Sir Charles Norwood, whose suggestion that the commission should be empowered to take evidence regarding waterfront conditions outside New Zealand was adopted. The New Zealand Primary and Ancillary Industries Producers’ Council at a meeting in Wellington yesterday passed the following resolution:— “That the position on the waterfront calls for immediate attention. The frequent stoppage of work and the heavy losses entailed, not only to primary producers, but to the whole community can no longer be ignored or countenanced. We call upon the Government to appoint a Royal Commission at the earliest possible date in order that the whole position may be investigated.”