Watersiders Protest At Pillage Search

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 10

Watersiders Protest At Pillage Search

(New Zealand Press Association)

WFIJ.INC.TON. May 18. Within minutes of a Wellington detective team arriving aboard the Union Steam Ship Company’s Kaitoke at Aotea quay this morning about 40 watersiders stopped work in protest. By lunch time 100 men were involved.

The watersiders refused to work the ship for the rest of the day because they objected to the manner in which a search for alleged pillaging was carried out The Kaitoke arrived early in the morning from Dunedin, where it picked up a “rush” cargo of 1500 tons, including confectionery. A police spokesman said this evening that pillaging had been reported, and in the ordinary course of duties, police made inquiries, and conducted searches “under the provisions of the Police Offences Act.” A spokesman for the Waterside Workers’ Union said the union had no objection to searches being carried out, but the men had walked off spontaneously because of the way the search was conducted. The men alleged that detectives had searched individual effects without the owners being present, contrary to previous assurances received on this matter from the Minister of Police and the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. S. Brown).

A Union Company spokesman said the matter had nothing to do with the cdtnpany, except that it was los-

ing monex because of the hold-up on a ship that had been specially put on at the request of Dunedin businessmen,to move cargo urgently. Though it had not informed the police of pillaging, the company’s view was that the police were entitled to take any steps they thought fit to stop it. the spokesman said. As the company understood it, the men had walked off soon after 11 a.m., but put the hatches on the holds, as asked, at 11.30 a.m. They returned to the ship at 1 p.m. when they were told there was "no pay for no work.” The men then left again, said the spokesman. The 100 men concerned consisted of the two gangs of watersiders first involved, and three more gangs op the ship who joined their companions later when the police moved to other holds. Work on the Kaitoke may resume tomorrow morning.