"NOT TO BLAME."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 158, 5 July 1940, Page 4

"NOT TO BLAME."

WHARF TROUBLE.

WATERSIDERS DEFENDED.

CARGO LEFT ON WHARVES.

1 Criticism of what he alleged to be "the muddle" on the part of the employers in connection with the loading of the vessel that had to Bail for Great Britain via southern porta yesterday leaving part of her cargo on the wharves, was made to-day by the president of the Auckland Watersiders' Union, Mr. T. Solomon. The vessel did not load her full cargo owing to the fact that the waterside workers refused to work after midnight on Wednesday. "There wae ! no reason why the vessel should not have been able to sail with a full cargo without the men working beyond midnight," said Mr. Solomon. He added that the watersiders had been compelled to unload certain hatches during the vessel'* stay and reload them again after transferring cargo to otner holds.

"I am certain that the position wi!! be altogether different when the Commission takes over control of the port," he added. "There ie no excuse for the mix-up and muddle that occurred."

The men were not given proper notice of the need for overtime, he went on. It was abrtiird and unfair to expect them to work over the time when their families were expecting them home at a certain hour.

"As far as the National Service Movement is concerned," he continued, "I mifflrt point out that on the waterfront there are men juet as patriotic as in that organisation and who are prepared to assist the Fmpire to their utmost. If the public only knew the muddle that exists on the waterfront they would realise that the blame does not lie with the watereiders."

Other watersiders said that there seemed to be a definite move afoot to introduce the principle of night work in spite of the fact that a definite promise had been received that the principle world not be established.