GOVERNMENT TAKES FULL POWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1940, Page 7

GOVERNMENT TAKES FULL POWERS

Awards May Be Suspended ATTITUDE OF AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON MEN CONTINUED REFUSAL TO WORK OVERTIME (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Wide powers of control over all phases of waterfront activity are assumed by the Government in a “Gazette” extraordinary issued last night. Power is taken, amongst other things, to: — Co-ordinate the activities of any persons or bodies concerned in the use. control, or administration of any wharf or wharves. Exclude from any wharf or wharves any person whose presence on such wharf or wharves is, in the opinion ol the controller, prejudicial to the expeditious loading or unloading of cargo or dispatch of shipping. Suspend for any period he may think fit or exclude from waterside* work any person for misconduct, refusal or failure to comply with any reasonable demands, or for any other good reason. By order in writing authorise any other person to suspend any person as provided in the last preceding paragraph, and to exclude any person so suspended from any wharf or wharves pending the decision of the controller.

Require any person to furnish from time to time such returns, statements, statistics, or other information relating to matters coming within the jurisdiction of the controller as he may deem necessary; and require that any such information be verified by statutory declaration; and examine any records from which such information is obtained and enter any premises for ihat purpose. Make any order in respect of any matter coming within his jurisdiction. The Minister of Labour may suspend in whole or in part all or any of the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, or the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913, or any awards or industrial agreements under these Acts in so far as they apply to workers engaged in the handling of cargo. An order excluding any person from a wharf shall remain in force till revoked by the controller.