SIZE OF GANGS ON WAIWERA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 6

SIZE OF GANGS ON WAIWERA

COMMENT BY MR D. A. ROBERTSON “ GOOD HUMOUR AND GOOD WILL” IN DISPUTE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 22. While the public might find some amusement in the farcical side of the Waiwera loading dispute at Lyttelton, it had its serious side, raising issues of concern to the public, said the general manager of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company (Mr D. A. Robertson) to-night. In the ordinary way it would have been encumbent on the Waterfront Employers’ Association, which directs policy action when a dispute arises or on the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, whose ship was concerned, to make a statement. In the circumstances he felt a duty fell on him to do so in the dual position of a member of the Aid for Britain National Council and as manager of the shipping company’s affairs in New Zealand, which endeavoured to reach the same end in the face of impediments placed at certain centres in the way of that speedy turn-round of shipping which would make aid for Britain really effective. It was refreshing to find at this stage the waterside workers of Lyttelton coming out and showing that individually they were at one with the community in not paying mere lip service to the aid for Britain appeal and were not behind the collective action taken presumably on policy grounds, said Mr Robertson.

“The course which the dispute has taken indicates the restoration of good humour and good will on the waterfront and justifies the employers’ tolerance in not provoking a stalemate,” he said. “It leads to a better understanding and fuller adherence to agreed principles of continuing work while a dispute is being determined in a constitutional manner. It will have a reassuring effect on the public, who have had occasion to look upon waterfront disputes with foreboding. \ “It can be conceded that good work, as reported, was done on the Waiwera, but that fact does not justify refusal to obey the direction of foremen, failure to maintain discipline on the job, or neglect of the spirit of the spelling agreement. Even if it can be shown that winches can be kept going in spite of spelling, the question arises whether gangs are not, in fact, unnecessarily large. This is a matter which deserves the immediate attention of the union and others concerned for the most efficient use of the available waterfront manpower.”