UNION'S APPEAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 6

UNION'S APPEAL

FOR WATERSIDE" WORKER

An appeal by the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union against the calling up for home service of one of its members, Ralph Leslie. Bush, was made before. the Auckland Manpower Committee i last night. The appeal was' lodged bn the ground, of; public interest. The president of the union, Mr. H. Barnes, said it was contrary to the union's policy ' to appeal for fit men, but in this case it was proposed to take the reservist for the loading and discharging of army, lorries, whereas the union considered the loading and discharging, of ships was of more importance. In reply to the chairman, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, Mr. Barnes said the union had made application for an increase of 50 in the membership, but the employers would not agree to this. He suggested that waterfront workers should be retained in industry, but at the same time organised into a pioneer corps and trained to combat any attack on the waterfront, as was done in Britain. Mr. Barnes admitted that it would be possible to replace reservist, but if men of his qualifications were to be called into the army the position would become serious. Decision was reserved at the time of the hearing, but the committee later announced that it had decided to dismiss the appeal.