Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1940. DELAYS ON THE WATERFRONT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1940. DELAYS ON THE WATERFRONT.

WHATEVER may be true, or may be thought, one way or the other, of the merits of the dispute that has arisen in some of the principal ports of the Dominion between waterside workers and their employers, national and Imperial interests plainly demand that the disnute should be ended without delay. As anv child knows, in these days of war every shipping route is a life-line of the Empire. An all-important place in those life-lines is occupied by ocean ports, and not least by the New Zealand 'ports in which ships are loaded with foodstuffs and other primary products greatly needed in the United Kingdom. Any needless hindrance to the unloading or loading and dispatch of ships from New Zealand or other ports operates to the same general effect as the German submarine campaign—that is to say, it reduces the effective capacity of the shipping tonnage at the disposal of Empire countries in their prosecution of the war. In these circumstances the Government has every reason to take the serious view the Minister of Labour (Mr NVebb) has said that, it takes of the delays in the loading and discharging of ships and most certainly should deal with the situation. Mr Webb also said that Cabinet hoped to have very shortly the report of the committee set up to investigate the position on the waterfront, together with a scheme of co-operative work which they thought might be applied to the waterfront. On receipt of that report (he added) the Government will immediately take the necessary steps to bring into being reasonable conditions for everyone on the waterfront. This is well enough as far as it goes, but the essential requirement plainly’ is that every legitimate means should be taken in. this country, as in other parts of the Empire, to expedite cargo handling and the movement of ships. Details of wages and working conditions in the ports of the Dominion are a matter to be settled under the law by the Arbitration Court and there need not be any question of attempting to make unjust demands on waterside workers. The national duty plainly devolves upon the Government, however, of seeing to it in these critical days that shipping movements are expedited to the greatest practicable extent. This is just as necessary as that the members of our fighting services, who are day by day risking their lives on land and sea and in the air should loyally play their part. The expeditious discharge and loading of ships is not only essential as a contribution to the war effort of the Empire, but is very necessary also in the particular interests of New Zealand as an individual. Dominion. In the extent to which it could be shown that ships 'were being-delayed needlessly in New Zealand ports, the British Government evidently would have a strong incentive to transfer them to any other service in which they might be employed more advantageously. This aspect and others of the question raised are worthy of the earnest attention of the general body of trade unionists in the Dominion. It is certainly not to be suggested or desired that any body of workers should be subjected to oppressive or unjust treatment. That being understood plainly, however, it is certainly necessary that there should be an open-minded consideration of any legitimate methods that are available—by the institution of continuous shifts or in other ways—of expediting the handling of cargo and the dispatch of ships. In these days of war emergency, as definite a duty and responsibility rests upon men engaged in essential industrial service as upon those who are bearing arms. It is incumbent on Ihe Government to give full and immediate effect to the declaration of the Minister of Labour that ships cannot be held up while discussion proceeds. At the moment ships are being held up.