Dockers Threaten Fruit Exports

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 15

Dockers Threaten Fruit Exports

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE. May 11. Shippers exporting fruit issued a warning yesterday that Australia's £lO million fruit export programme is seriously threatened by recurring waterfront stoppages. The Apple and Pear Board and the Fruit Exporters' Handling Committee issued a joint statement calling for Federal Government intervention in the interests of the export fruit trade. Ships carrying 500.000 cases of Tasmanian fruit are scheduled to call at Melbourne in the next few days to load 250,000 cases of Victorian fruit. The secretary of the Apple and Pear board (Mr W. J.

Oldman) said yesterday that £AI million’worth of fruit would be in danger if the ships were not worked at Melbourne. Forty-seven ships were waiting in the port of Sydney when waterside workers returned to work yesterday after a 24-hour stoppage. At present 746 watersiders are under suspension because of stoppages in Melbourne which will be idle until Monday at least. The secretary of the Melbourne branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation, Mr C. Young, said last night: “The men will report for work on Monday unless there are further suspensions—in which case I don't know what will happen.”