AUCKLAND PORT NORMAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 136, 20 March 1948, Page 2

AUCKLAND PORT NORMAL

Ships at Wharves Manned

THREE VESSELS STILL IN STREAM (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 19'. One of the most prolonged disputes in the history of the Auckland waterfront ended to-day with the return of waterside workers to normal working hours and the manning of all idle shipping. The port was working to-night for the first time since February 24, and to-morrow will be the first Saturday worked since February 14.

The final outcome of the dispute will be determined by Court proceedings. To determine whether men were wrongfully dismissed from the wheat ship Mountpark and to test the action of the Waterfront • Industry Commission in placing unionists on penalty action will be taken by the unibn. More than GOO unionists were engaged for idle shipping at the labour call this morning and practically all the remaining places were filled with I‘IO 'non-unioniets. The Mountpark was manned for the first day since February 20, when more than 120 men were dismissed for refusing to lift hatches. She is expected to complete discharge and sail on Tusday to load wheat at Sydney for Auckland and Wellington. A heavy accumulation of cargoes is now being handled on the waterfront and the effects of the dispute will be felt for many weeks, to come in wharf and shed congestion. Nine overseas, intercolonial, and coastal ships began discharging to-day. Three ships with overseas cargoes are at anchor. The Paparoa, with New York goods, will berth to-morrow afternoon after the departure for London of the liner Empire Star and the Bretagne will move from the stream to Chelsea about Wednesday to land sugar, but no berth will be available for some time either for the Port Wellington, which has been waiting with a Liverpool cargo for a fortnight, or the Coptic, which will come into port on Monday from the Motuihi powder anchorage with a cargo from Britain. The Moraybank, due on Sunday from the Gulf of' Mexico, will also anchor. Eight more overseas vessels will arrive by the next week-end.