WAINUI DISPUTE F.O.L. Seeking Action From Minister

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32232, 26 February 1970, Page 22

WAINUI DISPUTE F.O.L. Seeking Action From Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. February 25.

The freighter Wainui, held in Auckland more than 130 days, presented a Gilbertian spectacle situation unparalleled in New Zealand’s industrial history, the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) said today.

Calling on the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) and the Government to take action to get the ship to sea, Mr Skinner said: “The motorman, Mr Kidd, is working aboard the Wainui alongside the very engineers who refused to let him aboard earlier in the dispute.

“The ship is fully manned and ready for sea. Only the engineers are refusing to take her to sea. “It’s unbelieveable. It’s a Gilbertian situation. I’ve never heard of anything like it before.” This morning's meeting of the national council of the F.O.L. passed a resolution calling on the Minister of Labour, the Union Steam Ship Company, and the engineers to take action to get the ship to sea. “We think the Minister of Labour should be more active with the company. We have a feeling there’s apathy because of the cost of the service,” Mr Skinner said. “The Minister and the Government have as much power as the Government desires to use," he said. “They are the Government and they have the power to govern. They have the power to call individuals and groups around the table if they want to.” The F.O.L. actions in the

dispute had been endorsed by this morning’s meeting of the council, said Mr Skinner, The situation as the F.O.L. saw it was that parties went to independent arbitration by the Marine Superintendent in Auckland.

“We abided by the word of of the Marine Superintendent." he said. “It’s a matter for the Unton Company and the Government to take some action to see that the engineers keep the word they gave to the Marine Superintendent They don’t deny they agreed to abide by his decision."

The Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) said tonight that he hoped the Federation of Labour would continue to use its influence to bring about a settlement of the Wainui dispute. “The Government is continuing its efforts to do just that,” said Mr Marshall. “I am meeting the Union company officials tomorrow morning in a further attempt. But Mr Skinner is wrong when he says the Government has the power to force a settlement. There is no such legal power. The Wainui dispute is not a strike, and therefore legal action which might be taken against strikers does not apply."