AUCKLAND WHARF DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22554, 9 November 1938, Page 12

AUCKLAND WHARF DISPUTE

Position Reported To Be Unchanged AN APPARENT DEADLOCK Thirteen Vessels In Port To-day (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, November 8. After '-a A three-hour meeting this morning Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, when a recommendation from its Dominion executive was discussed, the men did not return to work the affected ships on the Auckland waterfront. A brief frigeting was held in the afternoon of the local dis- 1 putes committee; but at its conclusion. Captain Lewis, chairman of the Port-ok i Auckland. Shipping .and Stevedores’ Association, and Mr R. G. Jones the i union president, said that the pos’ition ( was unchanged. Neither could give i any indication of the future trend of ■ events. The . dispute has now been in pro- i gress for six days, and it is considered that the situation is no nearer a settlement than on Thursday. On that day unionists refused to handle cargo J on the Union Company’s ships Waiana : .and Kaimiro unless claims concerning starting time and wages were settled. Six gangs had been ordered for a 10 1 a.m. start on the Waiana last Wednesday, and. three more gangs were ordered to begin at Ivp.m. At 1 p.m. the original six gangs and the extra three all refused to turn to unless all hands were paid from 10 a.m. The Waiana ■was closed up. and although work was resumed, next morning, the men refused to continue work at 1 p.m. after a disagreement at a meeting of the local disputes committee. . The position on the Kaimiro was similar. Because of rain oh Thursday morning, eight gangs were ordered for a 9 a an. start; but when the men arrived on the job they refused to turn to unless paid from 8 a.m. ; Terms of Award .The Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, claiming that the award', provided that work should continuer at- • all times; and that, all disputes should be settled ;on;: congtitutfdhal lines, decided that, afternoon that .no further labour would be engaged 'until the terms of ..the/award were complied with. The Waterside- Workers’ Union has maintained, that :..the employers have not kept -to' the;''»gi:eement. and ■that the -men "have bedptSjready and "willing to work on other !ssps. Union officials have emphasised that the workers would be prepared to discuss the position when work was resumed on all ships excepting the Waiana and the Kaimiro. The result of the continued deadlock has been a steady accumulation of shipping and cargoes, the position growing more serious daily. To-mor-row morning there will be six overseas ships and seven coastal vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of nearly 60,000, idle at the wharves. The ships will , include the Huddart-Parker motorliner Wanganella, which will arrive ±n the morning from Sydney. Ships 'which will be idle unless work starts to-morrow, with their gross tonnage, are:— Overseas—City of Glasgow (5321), Mataroa (12,390) .Matua (4193), Middlesex (8730), Trienza (6378), Wanganella (9576), total 46,588.. ; Coastal—Canopus (1337), Kaimiro (2562), Kaiwarra (3051), Margaret W. (394), ~Pakura (719),; Port Waikato (668)'. Waiana: (3363). total 11,094. MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED IMPORTERS EXPRESS CONCERN IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF WORK URGED AUCKLAND. November 8. In an effort to bring about an early conclusion ,to the labour dispute on the Auckland waterfront, a meeting of the Auckland Importers’ Association decided to take steps to bring the dispute before the attention' of the Government. Deep concern was expressed

at the continued deterioration of waterfront conditions, it being stated that loss was being incurred both by the commercial community and the general public, and that the trade of the country as a whole was being damaged. The following telegram was sent to the New Zealand Importers’ Federation at Wellington;— “A meeting of our association held this afternoon requests you to approach the appropriate Minister and urge an immediate resumption of work on the Auckland waterfront, pending a settlement of the dispute in a constitutional mariner. The causes of the dispute are beyond .our province; but the effect thereof is disastrous to importers and the community generally. "The position will become more ! acute on the arrival of the Wanganella to-morrow, with a heavy cargo and limited port time. If the cargo is not unloaded, it will be several weeks before it is back at Auckland. Please give urgent attention to this.’.’ Mr T. J. Spry, secretary of the Auckland Importers’ Association, said that although it was not for the association to suggest where the trouble lay, it wholeheartedly supported the suggestion for the immediate appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate thoroughly waterfront conditions with a view to having them placed on such a basis that the community would be ensured of receiving from all interests concerned the service it was entitled to expect. INCONVENIENCE TO MERCHANTS ARRIVAL OF CHRISTMAS STOCKS CARRYING TRADE AFFECTED (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, November 8. Already many merchants and manufacturers are suffering inconveniences and possible losses through interference, with deliveries and dispatch of goods because of the dispute between shipping interests and waterside workers. The carrying trade in Auckland is very much affected by the absence of wharf deliveries, and even if the dispute is promptly settled, there are such heavy accumulations of goods that it will take much time to dispose of these. Importers are anxiously awaiting a settlement of the dispute because of the arrivals of Christmas stocks. The arrival of the Wanganella tomorrow will complicate the situation and, failing a settlement, it is anticipated that the ship will carry back its Australian cargo. Among manufacturers, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd., is viewing the situation with some concern because of the congestion of stocks at a time when the demand is near its peak. Already six lighters are held with supplies which cannot be discharged. Stocks of sugar are held for the South Island, and although a scarcity has not y el developed there, it may not be long before the supply question becomer acute. In the course of manufacture it is necessary for the company to maintain its output from the works, sc that the present dislocation of its trade > is very unwelcome.