FOOD PARCELS NOT LOADED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25321, 22 October 1947, Page 6

FOOD PARCELS NOT LOADED

WATERSIDERS DENY RESPONSIBILITY

CARGO LEFT BEHIND BY

RANGITATA

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. October 21. Denying any responsibility for tne -leaving of 11,000 food parcels for .Britain on the wharf when the Rangitata sailed from Auckland, the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, in a statement .to-day, said the loading of tne parcels by the crew after the watersiders had finished work was not put to the union. , „ _ “The watersiders are definitely sympathetic towards the food for Britain campaign and the quick turn-round ot ships,” said the secretary of the union (Mr R. E. Jones). “To this end, workers on the waterfront are at the disposal of the employers for a spreadover working week of 63 hours.” In its statement on the loading of tne Rangitata, the union referred to the engagement and dismissal of gangs during the operations, and a stoppage of work because no crane was available at one stage. Referring to work on Saturday afternoon, the union said the New Zealand Shipping Company’s foreman had assured the union’s representative that all cargo would be in the ship by 5 p.m., but it was possible that some parcels would be leit behind. The foreman, according to the union, said the company was not much concerned, as the vessel Somerset would' be taking the overflow. When the Auckland manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Mr G. L. Tait) was asked this afternoon if he regarded the union’s statement as a fair review of the position, he replied that, he could not check in a moment some of the points raised by the union. In any case, the matter had been fully reported to the company’s head office in Wellington, and any further statement would come from tfcere.