GOVERNMENT AND NEW UNIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26441, 7 June 1951, Page 8

GOVERNMENT AND NEW UNIONS

Conference Held At Wellington

MINISTER ISSUES REPORT From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, June 6. While uniformed police guarded the main entrance to Parliament Buildings, a conference was held to-day between the Government and delegates from 19 new port unions from Whangarei to Bluff. The conference lasted all day. It was presided over by the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) and was attended by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). Seventeen of the 20 new unions reported that they were at full strength. Lyttelton reported that its membership had risen from 104 to 235 in a week. The conference passed a resolution assuring the Government of its determination to do everything in its power to bring about a better and more efficient state of affairs on the waterfront. After a general survey matters of detail were discussed by each port in turn. Each delegate raised questions concerned with local working conditions. These were either answered by the Minister of Labour or it was agreed that they be immediately investigated. Both Mr Holland and Mr Sullivan addressed the conference. The delegates appointed a negotiating executive committee, representative of the conference, which would be available to meet the Government at any time for discussion of points as they arise in negotiations. The members elected to the committee are Messrs A. K. Bell (Wellington), R. S. Belsham (Auckland), J. Parmenter (Lyttelton). F. Morriss (Dunedin), E Hooper (Gisborne), W. A McNauvht (Bluff), and T. Brosnan (New Plymouth). A survey of the general position at each port as given by delegates was: full memberships at Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson. Gisborne, Whangarei. Whakatane, Tauranga, Motueka, Tokomaru Bay, Opotiki, Wanganui, Awanui. Oamaru. Patea, and Timaru; Wellington membership, 143; Lyttelton membership, risen from 104 to 235 in a week; Dunedin membership at onethird strength and rising fast: Nanier membership risen from 45 to 173; Bluff membership almost comnlete. The conference was held in the Government caucus room in Parliament Buildings. Statement on Talks A statement issued by the Minister of Labour to-night said that there was a very thorough survey of immediate problems, as well as preparation to meet others which would follow as normal work at all waterfronts was resumed. The conference passed a resolution in which delegates extended their sincere thanks for the invitation to attend the gathering to discuss problems associated with the waterfront industry.

We are indebted—the whole country is indebted—to the men who have come forward to form new unions,” said Mr Sullivan in his address to the conference. “Their work has already revealed a new spirit This conference is to discuss two vital questions concerned with waterfront work, the welfare of the men themselves and the welfare of the country as a whole as a result of the work undertaken.’’ Mr Sullivan praised the work of servicemen. Without them, he said he did not know what would have hap-, pened to the country. The Government was determined to continue its investigation of all means by which work on the wharves could be equitable and efficient, he added. That was an undertaking he had originally given to the leaders of the deregistered waterfront union. They had turned him down. He now made that promise to the delegates from the new unions. s t.

“The leaders of the old union knew we were out to correct all the things that could reasonably be expected to improve work on the waterfront,” Mr Sullivan continued. “No one could have been more tolerant than I was. I have opened the gate, and I have kept it open until they finally slammed it. I appealed and appealed to “e sense of responsibility and patriotism in decent men so that they would go back to work. If any of them have failed to do so they cannot blame anyone else but themselves, nor can they blame the members of the new unions for doing so.

Basic Conditions of Work The statement said that the basic conditions on which waterfront work would be continued were outlined by Mr Sullivan and accepted by the conference.

Mr Sullivan said that the most pleasing feature to date had been the work of the men in the new unions. General efficiency had improved remarkably, and there were a new spirit and a new atmosphere. Obviously a better turnround of ships was a service of great value to the entire country. He looked to an early future when ships would not keep away from New Zealand but would want to come here. “The servicemen with their loval and magnificent efforts, plus the emergency regulations, have enabled us to frustrate the most irresponsible action ever organised for, or imposed on, a group of workers,” said Mr Sullivan. Every man and woman knows that the regulations do not exist for decent citizens. The conditions that demanded them were the equivalent of the most serious national emergency with which this country had been faced. How else could conditions of such chaos and disorder be controlled? How else could intimidation and all the other organised campaigns for an open challenge to the people be met? Decent people know this is so. “The most impudent point of all was the final expectation that the Government should let down the workers with a sense of responsibility, both on the waterfront and in the coalfields, who had reformed their unions or who were carrying on with the job. The Government will never do that.” Mr Holland Speaks The statement says that in his closing remarks to the conference the Prime Minister said it had been one of the most stimulating he had attended. All the points brought forward had been most useful, and each port had had an opportunity to state any individual problems with which it was confronted. The most noticeable feature was the new atmosphere of real conciliation. “The Government took the first opportunity to bring the delegates together,” said Mr Holland. “The result has been a most useful and fruitful contact. The spirit has been one that has been lacking for a long time. It has proved that men—in the Government and out of it, regardless of political thought—can get together und talk about things in a reasonable manner. It has been a great day, and one of the results of which will echo round the world. “We are as keen to make the waterfront industry work to the satisfaction of all concerned as you are. Small personal issues are set aside entirely. The new unions have demonstrated in their approach to problems that they are determined both to do a good job which is vital to New Zealand, and to re-establish the respect of people for waterfront workers—respect for which they are entitled. In both these objectives I am sure that we will together succeed.

“The situation has called for courage of a very high order. For too long it has been the case that men have not felt there is opportunity for or safety in standing up and speaking for themselves. I thank you on behalf of the nation. We will look back on June 6 as the day which was the turning point towards a new era on the wharves of New Zealand. This was the day in which we together reintroduced decency into a manly industry. This conference has been fruitful, and is an act of the utmost goodwill among

The Prime Minister concluded with a special word of thanks to the Maori people for the part they had played in the emergency. He responded to special messages of goodwill that had been brought to the conference from various Maori delegate*,