DENIAL BY MR FRASER

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 8

DENIAL BY MR FRASER

WELLINGTON REPORT ON AGREEMENT “ The Press ” Special Service WELLINGTON, January 17. The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) described as “absolutely incorrect and misleading” a Wellington newspaper report which stated that an agreement had been reached on Thursday evening between Waterside Workers’ Union officials and the Government and setting out the “expected terms of the agreement.” Mr Fraser said any suggestion that terms had been agreed to misrepresented the whole position. The report to which Mr Fraser referred said: “Important points 'in the agreement are expected to include:—“Suspension of the: guaranteed wage order of the Waterfront Industry Commission, which precipitated the dispute seven weeks ago. “Restoration of the conditions obtaining on the waterfront before the dispute started. “Further consideration to the fourpoint demands of the union.” The union's four-point demands which emerged during the dispute were: (1) a satisfactory decision on the guaranteed wage (for which they claimed 14s a day); (2) restoration of the 25 per cent, margin for watersiders over the wages of unskilled labourers; (3) improved accommodation and amenities; (4) abolition of Saturday calls. WATERSIDERS’ MEETING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. The national council of the Waterside Workers’ Union reassembled this morning to consider the national executive’s report on consultations with the Government yesterday and last night. These had led to expectation of a settlement of the dispute. The Government had supplied the union with written proposals. After threequarters of an hour the council meeting adjourned to enable the executive to hold fresh consultations with the Government. It was stated that various points In the proposals required clarification. Although the council reassembled at 11 a.m. expecting the executive to return with. its report, it was still waiting at 12.45 p.m. The meeting was not resumed till the afternoon. EFFECT OF SHIPPING DELAYS SOME SHORTAGES OF GOODS AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. Although the experience is not yet general, new shortages of goods are beginning to occuT, and existing ones to be accentuated in Auckland as a result of the waterfront dispute, and the consequent unloading delays and the diversion of overseas shipping to other ports. More and more commodities are affected every day, and the position threatens to become serious. Small accumulations of goods, built up slowly, since- the end of the war. are becoming rapidly used up and wartime supply conditions may return. Importing warehouses are feeling the effects of the dispute most severely. They report increasing shortages in a wide variety of items, including crockery, glassware, hardware, building board, machinery, farm implements, motor parts and drapery consignments. These goods arrived on the New Zealand coast weeks ago, but it is not known when they may become available.