SITUATION ON N.Z. WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 141, 9 March 1940, Page 12

SITUATION ON N.Z. WATERFRONT

Discussion By Cabinet Today FURTHER STATEMENT BY MINISTER Production Not To Be Impeded Tiie determination ot the Government to govern and to protect the interests and rights of the people was emphasized by the Ministei of Labour, Mr. Webb, when referring in an interview last evening to the situation on the waterfront. He criticized the attitude adopted by the Auckland waterside workers, and said the Government hoped that common sense would soon prevail. The situation will be further discussed by Cabinet today, after the return to Wellington of the DeputyPrime Minister; Mr. Fraser, by aeroplane from the South Island. Since the present trouble occurred Mr. Webb has been in daily telephonic communication with Mr. Fraser, who has been away from Wellington since Monday on a recruiting campaign, and Kept him advised of all developments.

When asked if there had been any new developments in tlie waterfront, situation so far as Hie Government wits concerned, .Mr. Webb said that Cabinet had given much consideration to this question, but that there was nothing to add to his previous announcement on behalf of the Government to the effect Hint it was determined tiiat Hie present chaos that existed on the waterfront would have to stop. A more orderly and planned system of work had to be evolved, and the production of this country must no longer be impeded on any account by any section or sections of employers or workers, specially dining tlie war crisis. Government Disappointed. Asked if lie were prepared to comment on an Auckland Press Association message stating that the Auckland watersiders were still unprepared io work overtime till claims for a new award were met, Mr. Webb said the Government was very disappointed a<the attitude adopted by the Auckland branch of tlie Waterside Workers Union. “The least we might have expected for tlie privileges tlie waterside workers enjoy was that, they would eompiv witli their agreement along constitutional Hues till that agreement had been superseded by a fresh one, said Mr. Webb. “The Auckland branch was well aware that the Government was doing its utmost to negotiate a new svstem, in co-operation witli the executive of Hie Waterside Workers Federation and the shipowners of New Zealand, with a view to evolving a method that would be of. immense advantage to the waterside workers and to the country. However, before gn mg us •( chance to complete this work they saw fit to attempt to frustrate these efforts to bring about much-needed re“The branch is definitely acting unconstitutionally with its own federation and likewise with Hie New Zealand Federation of Labour, as bo h bodies should be tlie mouthpiece of the different branches comprising their organizations. Tlie Government hopes tiiat common sense will soon prevail, and that the Auckland watersiders will ie main true to the real Pn nci l’ lc * unionism and not revert to ratter ty rule' methods.” _ . Replying to a question as to> üb.it the next step was likely to be, Mr. said: “Tiiat will be a matter for Cabinet to decide tomorrow. Ono thing is certain, and that is that there can only be one Government in New Zealand at •i time. The Labour Government is determined to govern and protect the interests and rights of the people of this country.” CLAIMS OF MEN Statement By Union’s General Secretary There was discontent, on all fronts in New Zealand today, due Hie delay in Ditaining, a new agreiment, said Mr. J. Roberts, gem. al secretary of Hie New Zea lam • D side Workers’ Union, in a statenu.nl yesterday. , "Tlie dispute lias been referred the Court, of Arbitration for fully - months, but it has not yet been heai<L Mr Roberts said. "Tlie I ourl m IJ—. ami again in 1928. laid down a certain formula for adjusting walerside uoikers’ wi"-e< Tlie national union is prepared' hi accept that formula for a settlement of Hie dispute, but the employers of waterside labour hare ie"There is no justifiable reason uhy the dispute could not have been seule'l lon‘ r airo. Il should be reinembeied also that the present wage rates were agreed to in 1936, 1” months before the standard wage pronouncement increasin''- w.'t"es was made by the Court. Ihe num ’loading ami discharging ships rightly feel that a readjustment ot wages should have been made long before now, ami though the national executive of tlie union has done everything in its power it Ims been met always witli a blank refusal by the em--1,1 "'it'is t rue that tlie employers offered piece-work proposal, but this applied only io loading cargoes m overseas vessels at tlie four main ports and would concern only about 20 per cent, of the men. Tlie piece-work rate was not acceptable, but, in any case, the national executive would not accept a proposal whit'll applied to ouw -9 per cent, of Hie membership. He overwhelming majority of waterside workers in New Zealand do not desire anv hold-up on the waterfront They are as anxious as anybody else that continuous work should be carried on, but tlie delay in adjusting the dtsimk has caused grave discontent and the sooner it is adjusted on a proper basis the hotter it will be for all concerned.”