"HYSTERICAL."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 10

"HYSTERICAL."

UNION IN REPLY.

EVERY EFFORT MADE. TRANSFER OF LABOUR. Taking strong exception to what they termed "this hysterical outburst," Messrs. K. G. Jones, president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, and Mr. W. J. t'uthbert, walking delegate for the same body, to-duy issued a special statement dealing with yesterday's delay to the Monterey. T lie foundation for the union's argument was that co-operation seemed to be lacking among the employers, who, «aid ilr. Jones, could have taken gang's from other less-urgent vessels in the harbour and put them to work on the Monterey. This had been done in the past in the case of urgent vessels, but was not done yesterday. Our job is to see that every man in the union is working; it is not to make arrangements for the eniploving shipping companies," he declared. "Yesterday we did everything in our power to get the cargo worked through in time." Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Cutlibert pointed out that there were just over 1400 men in their union and that of these only 1320 were available yesterday, measles and influenza having reduced the available total. The employers, after absorbing all available non-union labour hanging about the wharves, communicated with the union officials, asking for still more labour. The union and the employers tried the placement office, and when there was not another ' man available anywhere, permitted the J crew of the Monterey to work« on the same terms as the watersiders. This, incidentally, was also permitted on the Wairangi, which was experiencing the same difficulty at another wharf. Distribution of Labour. , the shortage of labour still persisted, it was arranged that gangs from the Marmari, discharging at the King's wharf, ehoul<i !}«• sent to the Wairangi, which had large quantities of frozen produce to load. Every possible method was used to co-operate with the employers in distributing available labour. "We maintain," said Mr. Jones, "that labour from several boats, not in such a hurry as the boats scheduled to leave, should have been transferred—but that was the employers' job, not ours. The [ Marmari is going to Australia to be laid up for several weeks, and therefore work could have been suspended on her; there was also the Kiwitea, a coal boat, at the Western wharf, and the Antigone, discharging raw sugar at Chelsea, on which work could have been suspended in order to allow the union labourers emplojed there to work on the more urgent ships. The Springbank, a bulk cargo ship, was discharging at the Prince's wharf, which is usually reserved for coastal and mail ships. Usually bulk cargo ships work at the King's wliavf. Why could the Springbank not have waited until there wh room for her in the usual place at the King's ! wharf. ' "'We reiterate that co-operation is needed amongst the employers. We are willing to co-operate with them in any way we can."

Different Conditions in U.S.A. The union's representatives pointed out that Captain Johanaon was used to the Pacific Coast, where conditions were widely different * from Acckland. There was an army of unemployed, which could be called upon when labour was urgently needed on the wharves. "Great prominence has been given to this hysterical outburst by Captain Johanson," Air. Jones concluded. "In my opinion the publicity given is mainly propaganda. The officials .of my union have used every possible meaite to co-operate with the employers in the transfer of labour. If Captain Johanson is able to run the port of Auckland more efficiently than it is at present, he should get in" touch with the shipowners and devise a better schem.." . Mr. Jones also referred to the rain yesterday. This, he taid, he,*d up operations; yet exceptionally good work was J done. The waterside workers, further-' more, were not responsible for the Matson boats bringing more cargo than could be handled while the ships were in port. "Does Captain Johanson think that his company's ships, which are heavily subsidised by the United States taxpayers, should have any preference over British ships, which are competing with the American ships under unfair conditions?" he asked. "He must not forget that British ships are not allowed to carry passengers between American ports, and -that American ships are allowed to carry passengers between British ports." The union's representatives also pointed out that the amount of cargo unloaded yesterday from the Monterey represented an exceptionally good day's work. Only 30 tons were carried away the chip.