CLAIM FOR SPECIAL RATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 159, 18 April 1947, Page 2

CLAIM FOR SPECIAL RATES

SITTING OF TRIBUNAL STARTED PROCEEDINGS NOT OPEN TO PRESS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 17. The tribunal set up to assess the special rates claimed for shore workers employed on the liner Wanganella while she was on Barrett’s Reef and while the ship is on' the floating dock opened its sitting this afternoon. The tribunal comprised the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie), as chairman, Messrs C. G. Camp, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, Mr W. Cable, managing-director of W. Cable and Coy, Ltd., contractors for repairs to the Wanganella, Mr K. A. Belford, industrial officer for the Union Steam Ship Company, .Ltd., who represented the employers, Mr C. G. Caswell, secretary of the Wellington Engineer*’ Union, Mr T. Hill, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr P. E. Warner, secretary of the Wellington Boilermakers’ Union, who appeared for the workers. When proceedings opened Mr Camp challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to adjudicate upon the remuneration for boilermakers. The special condtions laid down in the award had been complied with, he said and the extra money had Jjeen paid. No objection had been raised and the job was finished. “Mr Hill said the workers considered that the amount to be paid to boilermakers while the ship was on the reef was of paramount importance. The chairman said the point raised by Mr Camp would be noted.

Mr Warner moved and Mr Hill seconded that the proceedings should be taken in committee. Mr Belford moved as an amendment that the proceedings be open to the press.

Seconding the amendment Mr Camp said the Tribunal's deliberations were a matter of public interest. The Tribunal rvas in the nature of a court hearing issues, and the courts were usually open to the press. There would be no harm in letting the public know the true position. Chairman’s Casting Vote Mr Hill said that Mr Camp had publicly stated that he wae going to have the press at the hearing. Would this mean that workers on the Wanganella would be free to attend? he asked. Mr Camp: Do you mean to infer that workers on the Wanganella would strike to attend a sitting of the Tribunal? Mi* Hill: Ten thousand workers are interested, and if they all decided to attend we would want the Basin Reserve. On the amendment being put, the three assessors for the employers voted for it and the three assessors for th workers against. The chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment, remarking that they would go into committee upon industrial matters. Upon resuming in open meeting, on the motion of Mr Hill seconded by Mr Camp, the Tribunal left to inspect the Wanganella. on the floating dock. The hearing will be resumed at 10.13 a.m. to-morrow. < Work on the Wanganella continued normally to-day, the boilermakers starting at 8 a.m. Mr D. E. Eadie, marine superintendent of the Huddart Parker Company, Ltd., owners of the Wanganella, is expected to reach Wellington from Sydney to-morrow and may give evidence before the Tribunal.