AUCKLAND PORT DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26179, 1 August 1950, Page 8

AUCKLAND PORT DISPUTE

EMPLQYERS’ MOVE SETTLEMENT THOUGHT UNLIKELY (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 31. Unless members of the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union decide to resume normal work on all ships in port at a meeting tomorrow morning, the port will be idle for another day. The Port Employers’ Association has told the union that all ships, including the New Zealand Shipping Company’s cargo liner, Rangitoto, must be worked before labour will be engaged on the wharves.

Twenty-four overseas or large coastal vessels are idle, as well as a number of coasters belonging to the Northern Steamship Company. The only ships that are working are the Rawhiti. unloading Australian hardwood sleepers at Panmure, and the small Viti, unloading Australian oranges. Two tankers which arrived to-day will not be affected.

A meeting was held at Onehunga today, and another will be held to-mor-row. It is reliably reported that the men will not resume work to-morrow. The union has refused to discuss the dispute v ith the port committee on each occasion the dispute has been brought up. Union representatives have said that it is one purely between the union and the New Zealand Shipping Company. Pickets were posted by the union on all wharves to-day. No incidents were reported.