Workers’ Union To Visit Wanganella, Deep Cove

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30216, 22 August 1963, Page 12

Workers’ Union To Visit Wanganella, Deep Cove

An invitation to inspect the Wanganella at Auckland, and to visit Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound early next week, has been extended by the Manapouri project manager, Mr R. K. Harris, to the management committee of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. The invitation had been accepted, said the South Island secretary of the union, Mr W. A. Dempster, yesterday.

Mr Dempster had been asked to comment on the Federation of Labour’s opposition to a composite award for the Manapouri project, and the federation’s opinion that the Wanganella was unsuitable for camp accommodation. The federation’s views were expressed in a statement issued after its council meeting on Tuesday. Mr Dempster said the Utah-WiUiamson-Burnett consortium wanted to have the New Zealand Workers’ Union as the union covering the job at Manapouri. This was because the New Zealand Workers’ Union was already geared to cover back-country hydro construction works. “This application and opinion have already been lodged by the company with the Court of Arbitration, and it is not ethical for me to pass an opinion at this stage on any expression of opinion, as given by the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner),’’ said Mr Dempster.

“It is the prerogative of the Federation of Labour to express its concern at any undertakings which may be detrimental to the welfare and

working conditions of all its affiliates, of which we are one.

“However, we as a union that has been, and still is, responsible for the establishing of 99 per cent, of the huge construction camps in the back country of New Zealand for hydro development, can claim that we have the experience of establishing many similar camps to the one that is planned at Deep Cove. “The union's committee, in spite of all their experience, is not competent to express an opinion until they have visited and inspected the ship, and been told first-hand by the Utah-Williamson-Bur-nett consortium what they would like to provide by way of accommodation and recreation facilities for workers. “Then we must visit the site, and judge for ourselves whether the consortium is right in its judgment in providing a ship for accommodation, in preference to the normal and ordinary hut-type of accommodation provided in such isolated areas. “When we have obtained precise, first-hand information at Deep Cove, and on

board the Wanganella in Auckland, we will be in a position to comment,” said Mr Dempster. “An invitation has also been extended, on behalf of both the company and the union, for a reporter of ’The Press." as well as the secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, Mr S. Harris, to accompany us, as our guests, to get independent, unbiased first-hand information. “I feel sure that after this visit our comments and those of the consortium will be a good guide for the New Zealand trade movement in general. “The project manager, Mr R. K. Harris, in issuing this invitation, said that the reason for doing so was that on his return to New Zealand from Australia this week he was amazed to be shown cuttings from newspapers telling of union opinions which were contrary to the real facts. “His company wanted to foster a good industrial relationship with the New Zealand industrial section from the outset. Further to the point, as his company would be, if given the opportunity, employing 98 per cent New Zealand labour, he was issuing this invitation without strings, to the trade union movement, through the New Zealand Workers' Union. He believed this union had the greatest amount of experience in this type of camp life which required particular abilities and wide experience.” The invitation had been issued to a representative of “The Press” in an effort to clear up the question whether the consortium should be criticised for attempting to give the best conditions and accommodation, under the circumstances, that it was possible to provide, said Mr Dempster. Driver Injured Mrs V. F. P. Protheroe, of No. 1 R.D., West Melton, suffered shock and leg and head injuries when the car she was driving hit a post in Yaldhurst road near Pound road at 10.30 a.m. yesterday. She was taken by ambulance to the Christchurch Hospital, where her condition last evening was reported as satisfactory. Mrs Proth•eroe was the only person in the car.

Lyttelton Street Collection: The sum of £52 3s 6d was collected by the Red Cross at Lyttelton yesterday under adverse weather conditions. Last year a record sum of £BO was collected.