Log Export Halted

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 38

Log Export Halted

(N.Z. Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, July 5. Plans to export a shipload of logs from the storm - damaged Waitarere Forest have collapsed because of a dispute between Wellington watersiders and the agents handling the sale of the logs to Japan. The exporter, Mr R. C. Macdonald, said today that his Wellington-based firm had been handling similar exporting jobs through Mount Maunganui. When his company heard of the storm-damaged forests in the southern part of the North Island, it decided to try similar shipments through Wellington, using the same stevedoring company—Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Stevedores, Ltd—and the same agreement with the

Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union.

However, the union said it was not prepared to work under the agreement Meanwhile, a vessel had been chartered to come to Wellington from Japan, to berth on August 15. If the first shipment was satisfactory two others would follow and it was hoped eventually to build up a permanent log trade through Wellington. “We asked the union to give it a go, as there was not time to negotiate before the ship arrived. We said we would be prepared to negotiate if it did net work out well for the union, but we explained we had to get started. “Last night the union said it would not work under the agreement, so we have sent a cable to Japan to tell them that the plan has been cancelled.” Mr Macdonald said the union wanted to do all the work on the wharf including the operating of unloading machinery. This work was done by the stevedoring company in Mount Maunganui and Nelson.

Mr L. J. Dickson, managing director of Mount Maunganui

and Tauranga Stevedores, Ltd, said today that in loading ships the company had never used men other than those employed through the Waterfront Industries Commission, which was responsible for apportioning work to union members, and it did not contemplate doing so. In Wellington the secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr J. Hoy) said the watersiders had not refused to handle the logs. Instead it appeared that an attempt was being made to break working conditions on the Wellington wharf.

“We have had discussions with Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Stevedores, Ltd, and have made our case clear. The proposal is that someone else should come and do our work. They want the logs to be handled by people who do not belong to the watersiders’ union.”

Three State forests, Tangimoana. Santoft and Waitarere, were badly damaged by high winds early in May. Since then logs from Tangimoana and Santoft have been railed from Marton to Napier for export to Japan.