The Press WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1962. Seamen’s Strike

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 12

The Press WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1962. Seamen’s Strike

How will it help the 100 seamen that Mr F. P. Walsh says are unemployed to make all the rest of the coastal seamen unemployed too? Will the strike called by Mr Walsh end there? Already the watersiders at Lyttelton are being suspended (on two days' penalty at a time) when they refuse to unload bananas from the African Reefer; and in a few days all of them will be out of work. Watersiders at other ports will earn less, though they will still have some income from their attendance to work overseas ships. The seamen and watersiders will look to Mr Walsh to do something to settle the dispute. Short of admitting his mistake in demanding that the Danish ship African Reefer be withdrawn from the banana trade, what can he do but threaten to give the strikers such support as he can obtain from the Federation of Labour? Indeed, Mr Walsh showed his readiness for industrial war when he led his own union into the struggle, whooping, “ It’s “ going to be a humdinger ”. The possibility of a much wider strike cannot be ignored; nor can the hardship it would cause to the general public as well as to strikers and their families. That is, however, no reason why the owners of the ship, its agents, or the importers of bananas, should submit to the dictation of Mr Walsh, and less reason why the Government should try to make them submit. If they submit now they will find it harder to defend their legitimate rights—and the

rights of all New Zealanders—in the future. The issue is not whether perishable fruit could be carried as well (if at all) in ordinary cargo ships, but whether Mr Walsh has any right or qualification to decide the point. Mr Walsh’s readiness to assume the role of expert on any subject does not make him one. Have New Zealand seamen a pre-emptive right to coastwise shipping? They may have; but that is not an issue either, because the African Reefer is an overseas ship. It cannot be seriously suggested that all New Zealand’s trade, iifiports and exports, should be carried in New Zealandmanned ships. Even if we had the men and the ships—and there is no possibility of our finding either —to attempt to force such a rule on our trading partners would be crass stupidity. It would strike at the very basis of international trade, which New Zealand, dependent on buying and selling abroad, could not contemplate. The Samoans could as reasonably insist that their bananas should be carried only in a ship manned by Samoans. Other countries are in a better position to enforce such a demand. Self-sought isolation by New Zealand would be much more damaging to the economy and to our standard of living than any temporary loss incurred by resisting industrial irresponsibility. At this time New Zealand needs to keep its friends, not to alienate them. What is true of New Zealand nationally may be true of Mr Walsh personally.

1 rights of all New Zealand- ! ers—in the future. } The issue is not whethei perishable fruit could be i carried as well (if at all) J in ordinary cargo ships, bu, 1 whether Mr Walsh has anj ’ right or qualification tc t decide the point. Mi - Walsh’s readiness to assume >' the role of expert on anj n subject does not make hin 1 one. Have New Zealanc n seamen a pre-emptive righ s to coastwise shipping? Thej f may have; but that is no r an issue either, because th< h African Reefer is an over' e seas ship. It cannot be - seriously suggested that al i. New Zealand’s trade, iifi- - ports and exports, shoulc r be carried in New Zealanda manned ships. Even if wt f had the men and the i ships—and there is no posi sibility of our finding s either —to attempt to force a such a rule on our trading t partners would be crass s stupidity. It would strike a 1 i the very basis of interi national trade, which New r Zealand, dependent on buys ing and selling abroad, 5 could not contemplate. The B Samoans could as reasons ably insist that their . bananas should be carried i only in a ship manned by » Samoans. Other countries - are in a better position tc » enforce such a demand s Self-sought isolation by - New Zealand would be ) much more damaging tc f the economy and to our • standard of living than any , temporary loss incurred by - resisting industrial irres sponsibility. At this time - New Zealand needs to keep • its friends, not to alienate ■ them. What is true of New t Zealand nationally may be r true of Mr Walsh person- ‘ ally.