USUAL WORK AT PORT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29444, 21 February 1961, Page 14

USUAL WORK AT PORT

F.O.L. Tells Men To Return

(New Zealand press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 20. Watersiders will resume normal work at Lyttelton at 8 a-m. tomorrow in accordance with the decision of . the Lyttelton Port Conciliation Committee made last Thursday. , - This was announced this evening by the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand), who said that this decision was conveyed to him by the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr F. P. Walsh), to whom the question had been referred by the Lyttelton union this morning. “In directing the men to resume work, the federation has once more reaffirmed its faith in the principles of conciliation and arbitration,” said Mr Shand.

“The New Zealand Port Employers’ Association, the North Island and South Island waterfront workers’ organisations, and the Federation of Labour have agreed to meet in conference to discuss the whole question of mechanisation of waterfront work,” the Minister said. “This stoppage has resulted in a loss of wages to the men concerned of more than £4OOO, and serious delays to ships involving a loss considerably in excess of this figure,- which, the public will eventually be asked to pay. “Nothing has been gained in the stoppage, as the proposed conference could, I am sure, have been arranged at any time at the request of any of the parties.” 11 Men Dismissed The dispute concerns the handling of a mechanical hoist which the watersiders believe should be handled by one of themselves.

After a short meeting at 8 a.m. yesterday at Lyttelton, the watersiders returned to work, but 11 men who refused to work with the mechanical hoist used in loading the Waipori’s freezer were dismissed. When a call for replacements was made, none was forthcoming, and 99 watersiders who had not accepted this call, although available till 10 a.m., were placed on a two-day penalty. Two other gangs loading the Waiporl continued normal work. The island trader Tarawera employed five gangs all yesterday discharging cases of bananas.

Because the other port employers did not request labour for vessels which had not started work before the dispute, only five vessels were worked yesterday. They were the steamer express Hinemoa, which is outside the dispute, the Shaw Savill cargo vessel Coptic, which is discharging general cargo and loading refrigerated produce, the Port St. John, which is discharging

general cargo, and the Tarawera and Waipori. In short 353 1 watersiders worked yesterday, 11 were dismissed, 99 were penalised and another 142 men went home when no call came. All Berths Filled Late yesterday afternoon the berths were all filled, but only one ship, HMA..S. Swan, an Australian frigate newly arrived, lay at anchor. The intercolonial freighter Kpromiko sailed tor Napier fully manned yesterday afternoon, after being delayed over the week-end by crew shortage. There were 19 vessels in port last evening, including H.M.AA Swan at anchor, but excluding the steamerrexpress and the Westport dredge Eileen Ward, which is in the graving dock. It is probable that the Coptic and Port St. John, both overseas vessels, will sail today.