WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND
Union Seeks Supreme Court Ruling PROPOSAL TO COMMISSION (From Our Industrial Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 10. The national executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union, which has been meeting ifi Wellington over the last two weeks, has proposed to the Waterfront ' Industry Commission that it should agree tb accept a writ from the union alleging the wrongful dismissal of men from the Mofintpat-k, and claiming damages, and that meanwhile overtime work should be resumed on all other vessels at Auckland. The commission has hot yet given its decision. The executive of the union is unanimous in its determination to press the issue and may seek a determination in the Supreme Court. “Some people are keen on going to Court nowadays,” said Mr H. Barnes, president of the union, to-night. “That seems to be the theme in industrial affairs to-day. We are being denied that opportunity by the refusal of the commission to reach a decision, and. while we are being denied it, shipping is being delayed in the port of Auckland. Union’s Proposal “We have proposed to the commission that the matter of the Mountpark be determined legally. We asked the commission to accept a writ claiming that the men on the Mountpark be isolated to permit a resumption of overtime work on and the manning of every other vessel in the port of Auckland. If these people ate sure of their ground in claiming that the men on the Mountpark were correctly dismissed. then they should tvblcdme our proposition, but so far the commission has given us no reply. “It has to be pointed out that the union made its submissions in the Mountpark dispute a week ago yesterday. The commission promised to give a decision, but we are still waiting. “It seems that some people are determined to buy a fight .with the industrial movement of New Zealand. We 'are notf anxious to have a fight, though if ope is forced on us we will face up to it, as we have always done.
“This is one issue . we have been anxious to determine for the last fortnight, but the positioh still obtaining is that men are continually being locked out from day to day. and we are denied the right of legally determining the issue. Shipping is being held Un in Aubkland, not by the Waterside Workers’ Union, who are anxious to work all shipping in a minimum number of hours, but by the Waterfront Industry Commission, one of whose main functions is to expedite the turn-round bf shipping.” Food ships may go PART FILLED DELAY TO COASTWISE AND TASMAN TRAFFIC (P.A.) AUCKLAND. March 10. “Unless the present position can be aliened ahd normal waterfront working hours resUnibd, it will be necessary to give serious consideration to dispatching food ships to Britain before their cargo capacity is coriipletely filled with needed produce,” said Captain R. S. Lewis, chairman of the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, to-day. Captain Lewis sdld this step might have to be taken to avoid further congestion for subsequent loadings. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s motor-ship Otari,, which was expected .at Auckland from Newport, Monmouthshire, oh Sunday with general cargo, is now being sent to Port Chalmers. An official of the company said the ship was being diverted to the South Island as a result of a change in her loading programme. The Otari was originally listed to discharge her cargo at Auckland and remain here to take a full loading for London and Liverpool. It is understood the ship’s freight will be transhipped from Port Chalmers. Another 80 members of the Auckland, branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union were placed on penalty today for refusing to accept engagement bn the wheat preference ship Mountpatk. The total at present Under penalty is now about 300. As a result of the departure to-day of the overseas Ships, Port Halifax and Kelvinbank, many more unionists will be given an opportunity to-morrow tb accept a call for trie Mountpark.
Accumulation of Cargo Delays to locally-controlled shipping, particularly tranS-Tasffian and coastal vessels, were proving serious, said Mr E. C. Buscke, manager of the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, to-day Ten vessels had so far lost an average of hirie working days. Tb this extent the local shipping industry was precluded from the use of ships, and as a result cargo for shipment tb New Zealand was banking up in Australia, arid cargo for coastwise carriage was bankifig up throughout New Zealand. This was creating an accumulation which, in the face bf the slew tUrtifoiind of vessels generally, could not be overtaken for several months to come. In the meantime all manner of disabilities were likely tb be experienced by the general public throughout the Dominion. Factories might be held up by shortage of an essential item of raw material, urgently required finished articles cbiild not be distributed for ebnsuifiption, ahd produce suefi as potatoes might become in. short supply. “Already sugar is awaiting shipment at Auckland and is no longer available in some places. The southern ports of the Dominion are already overtaxed. These troubles are now inevitable,” said Mr BUscke.
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Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25440, 11 March 1948, Page 6
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859WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25440, 11 March 1948, Page 6
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