N.Z. WHARVES 40p.c. Work Cut Possible

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31061, 17 May 1966, Page 17

N.Z. WHARVES 40p.c. Work Cut Possible

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 16. Work on New Zealand’s wharves would be cut by about 40 per cent if the British seamen’s strike went on, the general manager of the New Zealand Waterfront Industry Commission (Mr A. E. Bockett), said in Wellington last night.

“Generally I would say that about 40 per cent of the ships that come to New Zealand ports are Britishmanned,” Mr Bockett said. The general manager of the Wool Board (Mr J. N. Fraser) said it would be some time before the strike took its full effect, but it would affect New Zealand’s ability to get raw wool to Britain and the Continent. “All Markets” Mr J. W. de Gruchy, the general manager of the Meat Board, said the strike would not only affect New Zealand’s British market, but all markets. “We have been using British shipping to diversify markets—now we are in the position where we are letting people down,” he said. The Dairy Board’s director of marketing (Mr S. Murphy) said if the strike lasted more than a month, it would seriously affect the industry’s exports. No steps had been taken to divert New Zealand apple shipments because of the strike, the general manager of the Apple and Pear Board (Mr D. L. Waller) said in Nelson today.

The Rangitane, due to sail from London for New Zealand on Friday, with 450 passengers as well as cargo, will be one of the first ships held up. British ships in transit will not be affected by the strike until they get back to their home ports—unless the scope of the strike widens. New Zealand seamen will discuss the strike at stop work meetings tomorrow, but there have been no requests to them for sympathy action. Shipping agents in Auckland were today accepting passenger bookings and freight consignments as usual for ships manned by British seamen.