LABOUR FOR WHARVES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26369, 13 March 1951, Page 6

LABOUR FOR WHARVES

Substantial Increase Being Considered ‘ STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER (New Zealand Pr«M AMocialion) AUCKLAND, March 12.

More labour was required at all ports, and as the Government could not assume that the strike would V e over in a few days it was considering increasing the labour force on the wharves, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) in an interview in Auckland to-day.

“We are considering substantially Increasing the labour force available to essential services committees at various ports,” he said. “I hope to be able to announce ways and means of providing substantial additions to the manpower available in a few days.”

With the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan), Mr Holland flew to Auckland from Wellington on a short visit this afternoon. While Mr Holland conferred with the Mayor’s emergency committee, Mr Sullivan visited the waterfront and addressed servicemen working On the wharves. The Prime Minister and Mr Sullivan left on their return journey by air at 5.45 p.m.

Mr Holland explained tijat the purpose of his visit was to consult with the emergency supplies committee, learn of its problems, and keep it informed of the Government’s policy and decisions on the waterfront crisis. “It has been our policy to keep in close touch with the committees doing such splendid work in organising ur-gently-needed supplies,” he said. “I intend to keep up close personal contact, as decisions can be made on the spot and opinions exchanged. We can also ensure that the committees have the full backing of the Government and all the legislative authority that the Government can give to them.” Mr Hdlland said he had not heard of a single striker who had refused to eat his breakfast because the coal which made the gas was handled by members of the services. Nor had he heard of any other strikers refusing to eat eggs flown to cities by the Air Force or flour sent by ships manned by the Navy, nor of anyone shaving in cold water as a protest against the services handling coal. The long queues in front of butchers’ shops in Wellington also contained many people actively associated with the waterfront dispute who had no objection to buying meat processed by people other than abattoir workers. “The Federation of Labour has proclaimed itself against the strike, and has urged that essential services to the public be maintained," continued the Prime Minister. “Up to now the Government has tried to avoid the eranloyment of free labour in order to deal with the immediate problems of the strike. It has been and still is my hope that we can find a solution and a satisfactory basis of settlement, and at the same time avoid the bitterness and recriminations that characterised the 1913 strike. “We are all citizens together, and we have to live together, and I hope

even yet that common sense will prevail.”

There was overwhelming evidence that the country was solidly behind the Government in its action against the strikers, and from information that had come to him he was convinced that 80 per cent, of the waterside workers themselves were against the wreckers.

“We have depended on our servicemen in this trouble, and they have made a magnificent contribution to the peoples of the world,” added Mr Holland. ff No praise is too great for their work on the waterfront.”

The Prime Minister said that two Ministers had visited the Wellington waterfront during the week-end, and Mr Sullivan had come to Auckland to make a similar tour of the Auckland wharves. While the party was in Auckland talks were taking place between the Federation of Labour and the men who claimed to be able to speak for the striking waterside workers, freezing workers, and coal miners.

“Up to the present the aim of the Government has been to see that people get the essentials of bread, meat, flour, sugar, and other necessities, as well as amenities such as gas, electricity, and water,” concluded Mr Holland. ‘‘We are determined to have the essential foodstuffs of which Britain is in the most urgent need—butter, ® e ?t. cheese, and fruit—shipped to the United Kingdom. “The time has arrived when the Government must urgently consider the problem of handling general cargo which is also seriously affecting the production of our farms and factories. It is difficult to draw the line between what is essential and what is not essential, but the health of the community cannot be preserved unless essential cargoes are unloaded. Additional labour is needed at all ports, and we are considering increasing the labour force at the ports."