WTERSIDERS WHO WISH TO WORK

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26393, 11 April 1951, Page 6

WTERSIDERS WHO WISH TO WORK

Minister Warns Against • ?: 1' ■ IntimidatioiOSJS WELLINGTON DRIVERS DEREGISTERED FfMi Oar Own lUpontr WELLINGTON April 10. Intimidation of men who were anxiotifi to return to work, of which there was considerable evidence it was said, resultea to-day in special instructions being issued to the police to take immediate action wherever cases come under notice. Calls are beiitg made at the homes of rforftfere who it H thought might Intend to return to Wk, anonymous telephone meoMges are being received in some cases, and men are being abused and threatened. There is also evidence that watersiders ate being instructed to hand their registration cards to union officers instead of returning them to the Department of Labour and Employment

The Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan), in a statement to-day, advised workers to report immediately to the police any attempts to Intimidate them and urged them not to give their registration cards to officers of the deregistered union. The Minister warned the men that delay tn completing their cards applying for employment on the waterfront might deprive them of the opportunity of obtaining such employ* fflent. “It is proposed at an early date to give other workers who have been endeavouring to join the union an opportunity to complete applications for employment If sufficient applications are not forthcoming from members of the deregistered union,” said Mr Sullivan.

The Government deregistered the Wellington Drivers* Union to-day. Steps are understood to be under consideration to achieve the formation of a new union, where It is believed that about 250 members will be enrolled.

“Any person Who tries to influence waterside workers not to register for employment or who attempts to intimidate workers who have registered, commits a serious offence and is liable to imprisonment tor a term of three months,” said the Minister. “It has come to my notice that in some ports waterside Workers have been asked to hand their registration Cards to local officials of the deregistered union. I would sat to waterside workers do not in any circumstances do this, for if you do your registration cards will either be held back or dntroyed. The registration cards should be completed and placed in the envelope supplied and posted to the local office of the Department of Labour and Employment Any worker who has not vet received a registration card will have one posted to nihi oh telephoning the local office of the department ‘‘l can assure all workers who comDlete these cards that they will be treated in the strictest confidence and that wh«l a return to work is arranged 016 deceive the whole protection we State to prevent victimisation. . The Government does not propose to, stand idly by and allow Communists and other trouble-makers to victimise decent workers who we know

are anxious to return to employment as soon as possible. The police have definite instructions to take immediate action against anyone who is found committing a breach of the regulations, and anfy worker who is intimidated in any way is asked to ring the local police at once.” The Minister’s statement announcing the deregistration of the Wellington Drivers’ Union said that the Wellington drivers were the only drivers m the whole of New Zealand Who were not carrying on their normal duties. “It is known that a large section of the drivers in Wellington are anxious to carry out their usual work on the waterfront, but through the intimidation tactics adopted by certain union officials have been prevented from doing so," said Mr Sullivan. “The way is now open for new unions to bo registered of workers who are prepared to carry out their contracts of service,”

Four more unions were registered to-day in the freezing industry—at Fates, Whakatu, Ngauranga and J. C. Hutton's bacon factory (Ngauranga). Registration of these unions was accompanied by an announcement that freezing works throughout the whole area fomerly covered by the deregistered Wellington Freerittg Workers* Union were now operating.