WATERSIDERS’ APPEALS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24446, 21 December 1944, Page 3

WATERSIDERS’ APPEALS

CONGESTION AT AUCKLAND WHARVES x SERVICE DEFERRED UNTIL AFTER JANUARY 15 (P.A.) AUCKLAND, December 20. An application to withdraw appeals lodged on behalf of 17 category Ai waterside workers was made by the Waterfront Control Commission at a sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board this evening. To enable the Commission to handle the accumulation of work on thef wharves during Christmas and the New Year, the Auckland Waterfront Controller (Mr W. J. Cuthbert) made a request that the men should not be called into camp until after January 15. The shipping and labour position in Auckland had undergone a change since the Commission considered it was in the public interest that these men should be held in the industry, said Mr Cuthbert There had been some reduction in the volume of shipping at the port, and as far as could be ascertained, it was not likely that the volume would increase to any extent next year. Although the men whose appeals were under consideration were skilled waterside workers, it could not be maintained that there, were not sufficient physically fit men available ■ for replacements in the industry, continued* Mr Cuthbert. In view of the Government’s policy to return men with more than three years’ overseas service to industry, there would no doubt be an equivalent number of men returned, to the Auckland waterfront “ •

In asking that the men should not be mobilised. until after January. 15, Mr Cuthbert said that because of the Christmas and New Year holidays falling at week-ends, there was considerable'congestion at the port. In addition, the number of men who normally took Christmas vacations had been considerably increased by the introduction of the Annual Holidays Act It was anticipated that the position would be easier by the middle of January. added Mr Cuthbert. The Waterfront ,Control Commission- desired to place on record that it had not at any time lodged appeals for single waterside workers or married men without children. The board dismissed the apeals. with the condition that, the men should not be palled up until after January 15.