MEN RESUME WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1939, Page 6

MEN RESUME WORK

WATERFRONT HOLD UP ENDS

OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY MINISTERS.

INSUFFICIENT UNIONISTS AVAILABLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The hold-up on the Wellington waterfront, which began on Thursday and led to the dismissal of 830 men on the ground that they were adopting a "go-slow” policy, . ended yesterday. Work was resumed soon after 1 o’clock in the afternoon. . .. - Nearly 1000 members of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union packed the Tivoli Theatre yesterday morning at a special stop-work meeting arranged by the Government in co-operation with the shipping companies. Many were unable to gain even standing room. Admission was by union ticket only, and the Press was excluded. The meeting lasted from 8 a.m. till 11.30 a.m.

It was decided that work should be resumed at 1 o’clock under normal conditions and that officials of the New Zealand union should open negotiations with the employers immediately for a new agreement. The previous award expired last July. Speakers were the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, the Minister of Marine. Mr Fraser, the president of. the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr J. Flood, and the secretary, Mr J. Roberts.

At a mass meeting in the union wait-ing-room at 12.45 p.m., the men were told that the suspension penalties imposed on those who had been dismissed would be waived by the control board of the Waterside Labour Bureau. The manager of the Wellington Cooperative Waterside Labour Employment Association, Mr W. Bennett, said later that after the Piako, the Rangitata, the Doric Star, the Karu, and the Foxton, the five vessels first concerned in the holdup, had been manned, 1100 men were required for the rest of the vessels in port. Only about 400 union members were available, however. GOVERNMENT POLICY. OUTLINED BY MINISTERS. . (By Telegraph—Press Association ) WELLINGTON, This Day. After the stop-work meeting yesterday of Wellington waterside workers an official statement was issued by the two Ministers, who were present, Mr Ffaser and Mr Webb. It was stated that a resolution to resume normal working was adopted almost unanimously. The statement is as follows:— At a crowded meeting of waterside workers held in the Tivoli Theatre the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Marine addressed the men and gave an outline of the Government’s, policy concerning any form of interference with the work on the water front that would prove detrimental to. the loading and discharging of cargoes. They emphasised that the Government had supported and encouraged all forms of genuine unionism, and had assisted the workers generally to obtain the highest standard of living that industries could pay. The Government, through the Labour Department, assisted in the enforcement of those agreements, but insisted that onco an agreement was come to any dispute or disagreement arising out of th 6 agreement should be referred though constitutional channels, to be .there dealt with by the disputes committees, local and national. The case for the workers should be handled by their accredited representatives and irregular action should not be tolerated. “NOT PLAYING THE GAME.” They pointed out that the very industrial life of the community and the maintenance of a high standard of living was dependent upon efficient work, not only on the waterfront, but throughout New Zealand, and appealed to the men to appreciate that point of view. They pointed out that the Government would not protect riren who would not do a reasonable day’s work for the money received, and they were most emphatic that if men declined to work they could not pxpect and would not get the Government’s backing. It was agreed by the workers themselves that a small minority of their members were not playing the game. The Ministers appealed to those members to play the game and do a fair day’s work; failing that, they could not expect to enjoy the privileges of a closed union and equalisation of hours. The Ministers also pointed out plainly the steps the Government would be compelled to take if the nation’s economic life continued to be threatened by "go-slow” or other detrimental tactics.

CAN BE ONLY ONE GOVERNMENT. The Ministers macle it quite clear that there could only be one Government, that the Government was fully conscious of its responsibility to the people of this country, and would not hesitate to use its full powers in the protection of the interests of the country, including those of genuine trade unionism, which should and would cooperate with the Government, in its work of social advancement. Both Ministers were gratified with the excellent spirit displayed by the great majority of the men, and they left the meeting confident that more efficient work and closer co-operation would prevail. They stated that they expected the same co-operation from the shipowners. The Government was anxious to facilitate the economic loading and discharging of vessels, and asked the men for their fullest co-op-eration in the discharge of that work. A motion to resume normal working was carried almost unanimously. It was clear that the predominant feeling was anxiety to co-operate with the Government in the efficient working of the port and the dispatch o'f commodities for the overseas market. NEW AWARD. APPLICATION BEFORE COURT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! WELLINGTON, This Day. When the resolution of the mt>n that union officials open negotiations wilh the employers immediately for a new argument was referred to him, Mr Bennett said that the application for the hearing of the dispute for a new award was now before the Court of Arbitration and could not be withdrawn without the consent of both parties. The employers were of the opinion that the court was the legal and proper body for the interpretation and making of awards. FARMERS’ ATTITUDE. NON-INTERVENTION ADVOCATED AT PAHIATUA. PAHIATUA, This Day. A meeting of the Paniatua Executive

of the Farmers’ Union held yesterday carried a resolution unanimously advocating non-intervention by the union in connection with trouble on the Wellington waterfront. POSITION SATISFACTORY. LABOUR SHORTAGE NATURAL in circumstan'ces. WELLINGTON, This Day. As far as he was aware, work was being carried on satisfactorily on the waterfront, said Mr Bennett, secretary of.the New Zealand Waterside Employers’ Association. Asked if the supply of labour was equal to the requirements, he said no ships were held up though some were short-manned. A shortage of labour was natural in the circumstances and probably Would continue for a day or two. A number of non-union workers were again engaged today.