Govt assurance on container packing

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 2

Govt assurance on container packing

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 19.. Railway staff involved in the transport of container cargoes today sought—and obtained —Government assurance that there will be no change in the present system of packing and unpacking the containers.

Railway-consigned cointainers are at present packed and unpacked by members of the Storemen and, Packers’ Union or the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The Waterside Workers’ Uniori has suggested that the work should be done by its members.

A deputation from the A.S.R.S. today called on the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) and the Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon). The general secretary of the A.S.R.S. (Mr N. A. Collins) said the railwaymen’s concern arose only with containers that travelled by rail ferry for part of their journey.

The ministerial assurances gained today “mean that containers on rail waggons which, during their journey travel by ferry, will’be divorced from the argument about who' is to unpack them,” said Mr Collins. The A.S.R.S. was not involved with containers which were consigned by sea—- " Once a container gets on to the wharf, the job from there on belongs to the watersiders.”

The deputation today comprised Mr R. J. Doherty, president of the A.S.R.S., Mr J. P. Cranston, a vice-president, and Mr S. S. Walker, a national councillor, as well as Mr Collins.