WORKERS REFUSE TO LOAD FLOUR FOR A.I.F.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 7

WORKERS REFUSE TO LOAD FLOUR FOR A.I.F.

WATERSIDE STAND. Minister's Threat To Bring In Licensing. N.Z. COAL FOR TRANSPORTS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received noon.) SYDNEY, this day. If the waterside workers persist in their refusal to load a ship with flour for the A.I.F. the Minister of Industry, Mr. W. M. Hughes, will recommend the application to the port of Sydney of the licensing provisions of the Transport Workers' Act. Mr. Hughes said that it was a serious step, but the position that had arisen was a very seripus one. The Federal Minister of Supply. Sir Frederick Stewart, states that arrangemriits have been made to secure coal for ships to carry troops abroad. It is learned that the arrangements include supplies of coal from New Zealand. The combined mining unions knew of this development, but it is understood they preferred not to make any representations to the Xew Zealand Government or the New Zealand trades union movement. The Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Wrbb, said yesterday that he had cone carefully into the matter of allowing shipments of coal to go to Australia. In view of the urgency of the matter it had been decided to jiermit consignments of steam coal for the Australian Navy and troopships only to be sent to Australia. Types of coal required in Xew Zealand woidd not be allowed to leave the Dominion, but it was felt that as supplies were needed for the Navy and troopships, the Dominion should do anything possible to help Australia's war effort. New Zealand could supply a reasonable quantity of small steam coal, mostly from the West Coast, but no l»ig coal would be sent. / Mr. Webb said arrangements were now being made f oi the lirst. shipment, which he understood would be about 30(H) tons. The supplying of the n>al was a war measure, he added, so that the labour dispute in Australia did not enter into it.