WATERSIDERS GIVEN ONE WEEK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14254, 31 December 1946, Page 3

WATERSIDERS GIVEN ONE WEEK

DECISION MUST BE

MADE

Prime Minister’s Ultimatum

Power Under New

Regulations

Wellington, Dec. 30

A blunt ultimatum that if normal hours of work on the waterfront are not resumed on or before next Monday, the Government will suspend the powers and authorities of the Waterfront industry Commission, is contained' in a statement issued today by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. This unequivocal statement has given the watersiders one week, in which to decide whether to. continue with their .open challenge to the Government, and early developments can now be expected.

The Prime Minister made it clear in his statement that should the Government take this step it would ipean the suspension of all orders and decisions of the Waterfront Control Commission and the Waterfront Industry Commission. This .would include the main otder prescribing wages and conditions of employment, the abandonment of the cooperative contracting system, and the suspension of numerous other improvements in working conditions granted to waterside workers. The Government armed itself some ten days ago with authority to suspend the powers of the commission by gazetting an amendment to the Waterfront Industry Emergency Regulations. The Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, who is empowered to make any such order, has remained in Wellington over the holidays.

The ultimatum has brought matters to a head in the waterfront dispute and a decision by the watersiders can be expected shortly. The men will stop work at noon tomorrow and resume on Thursday and Friday, so that after to-day only two and a-half working days remain before the ultimatum takes effect.