N.Z. ROLE IN SHIPPING

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 24

N.Z. ROLE IN SHIPPING

Mr Scott Outlines New Policy

(New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, December 3. “I am satisfied that no overseas-owned and based shipping companies, especially the British Conference Lines, can expect to continue for ever to carry our exports without some change in their policy,” said the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) at the opening of the extensions of the Port of Gisborne yesterday. “As-1 see the position, they will have to consider taking in some New Zealand capital, if it is available for investment, to put some of their ships on the New Zealand Register and fly the New Zealand flag, to man some of those ships with New Zealand crews and survey some of those ships in New Zealand,” he said.

“One of the Dutch lines has already set a good example by agreeing to slip two of their ships in Port Chalmers and one in Auckland. “I hope that other companies will follow the same good example,” said Mr Scott. This would save overseas exchange and would expand the work of New Zealandbased companies. Cost Of Strikes “At the present time New Zealand is paying dearly for two overseas strikes, those of British seamen last year and Liverpool and London dockers this year, both beyond our control,” said Mr Scott “But ships manned by New Zealand crews would be under New Zealand jurisdiction irrespective of what part of the world they traded in. “The Seamen’s Union has, over the last 12 months, been advocating a State or a national shipping line and the New Zealand Labour Party has, adopted this as their policy. “I do not support this policy and have warned the Seamen's Union from this advocacy to the establishment and expansion of the activities of New Zealand-based shipping com-

panies. “They, the seamen, have temporarily agreed to more realistic manning scales for an additional ship put on the New Zealand register. “Our seamen have been noted for kicking over the traces a bit and next year 1 plan to create, after consultation with all interested parties, a disciplinary board under the Shipping and Seamen’s Act to which will be referred all flagrant breaches of the New Zealand maritime laws. Waterfront Labour “I have been accused by Mr Isbey, president of the Waterfront Workers’ Federation, of wanting a return to the auction block system of selecting labour on the waterfront. I give that an utter and complete denial. “If Mr Isbey read what I said, and I repeat it now, it was impossible to take that meaning from it”

Harbour boards could be responsible for the labour on the wharves, said Mr Scott, either as permanent employees or by licensing stevedoring companies. “Harbour boards are among the most important of New Zealand’s local authorities. They have an extremely practical task to do, and the majority of them have done it very well,” he said.