GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR WHARF LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26399, 18 April 1951, Page 6

GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR WHARF LABOUR

Three Classes Invited To Apply ADEQUATE REPLY EXPECTED BY END OF WEEK From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, April 17. The Government expects that by the end of this week enough men will have registered at a number of ports»to enable new unions to be formed and work resumed. This was said in an interview to-night by the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan). The Minister also announced the Government’s decision, which has been expected for some days, to call on other labour to work on the wharves. Applications are being invited from the following:—(1) All former waterside workers; (2) all nonunionists who have worked on the waterfront; (3) all other workers who desire to follow waterfront work as a full-time occupation. Preference will be given in this order. Members of the deregistered union have been given until Friday to reregister. Those who have not done so by then will be given no preference. Mr Sullivan emphasised that victimisation would not be countenanced, and said that the full protection of the State would be behind those who took up waterfront work. The Prime Minister (Mr Holland), in an interview to-night, referred to approaches made by the Trade Union Congress. He said that in this crisis the Government did not recognise the congress. He had refused an application by the secretary of the congress (Mr A. B. Grant, of Christchurch) for a deputation of 21 persons representing striking unions to meet the Cabinet.

STATEMENT BY MR SULLIVAN

The Minister ot Labour recalled that last week the Government had issued registration cards to all former waterside workers calling on them to register for work within one week. A letter accompanied each card setting out the main conditions of resuming work.

“Although a number of waterside workers nave registered at various ports the response has not yet been sufficient to justify the Government arranging for a resumption of work,” said Mr Sullivan. “The main reason for this is that threats and intimidations have been used so extensively that men have been afraid to register, and it is known that others have left the waterfront for other employment. "The conditions of re-employment already announced have been approved by all fair-minded people, and no one has voiced objection to any one of the conditions,” Mr Sullivan said.

After listing the three categories of workers who have been invited to wdrk on the wharves, the Minister said that these workers could obtain registration cards by telephoning or writing to the local office of the Department of Labour or by calling at the local office and registering in person. An assurance was given that applications would be kept in the strictest confidence. Workers who register would not be asked to commence work until a reasonable number was available and new unions were formed.

“Although up to the present invitations to register have not been sought from other than members of the deregistered union, quite a large number of men have asked for cards," said Mr Sullivan. "These will now be posted to them, and they are asked to complete the cards and return them to the department as soon as possible. “An invitation is again extended to members of the deregistered union to register immediately. Those who have not completed registration cards by Friday will be given no preference over other applicants. “I would say to all former waterside workers who are anxious to resume work on the waterfront that they should not be influenced by threats of victimisation but should complete their cards without delay, as this is the last opportunity for members of the deregeistered union to obtain preference over other

workers who desire to work on the waterfront. The Government is determined to prevent victimisation in any form, ana the whole protection of the State will be behind those workers who register and take up work on the waterfront.

“It is expected by the end of the current week that a sufficient number of men will have registered at a number of ports to enable new unions to be formed and work to oe recommenced. Nothing should now stand in the way of a resumption of work, the conditions previously announced are fair and reasonable, and other matters affecting employment will be determined by a proper system of conciliation and arbitration.” Request to Mr Holland The Prime Minister said to-night that he had receiyed a telephone reSuest from the secretary of the Trade ’nion Congress asking for a deputation of 21 persons representing unions whose members were on strike, to meet the Cabinet Mr Holland said that in this present crisis the Government did not recognise the congress, affiliations of which had done their utmost to spread and prolong the trouble and to increase the severity of the hold-up and public inconvenience. Mr Holland said that no indication was given as to the nature of the matters«to be discussed. The Cabinet therefore was not prepared in these circumstances to receive such a deputation. “If these people have any proposals to make they should be made in writing to the Minister of Labour in the ordinary way,” said Mr Holland. “The Government has with the greatest clarity laid down its attitude toward the strike, and there can be no deviation from this. There must be public acceptance of the principles embodied in its seven-point programme. There must be a new setup for the fixing of watersiders’ wages and conditions of employment inside the framework of conciliation and arbitration to replace the one made inoperative by the withdrawal of the watersiders’ own representatives. “As soon as these points are publicly accepted the way will oe clear for the registration of new port unions at the various ports, and work can then be resumed."