WATERFRONT DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 119, 15 February 1944, Page 4

WATERFRONT DISPUTE

Deadlock Continues At Auckland

(By Telegraph Press Association.! AUCKLAND, February 14.

The Auckland wharves were quiet this morning due to the deadlock between the Auckland branch of the Watersiders’ Union and the Waterfront Control Commission. Several ships were idle, involving loss of work for approximately 600 men.

The deadlock arose in a dispute regarding the dismissal of about 100 watersiders, following jheir refusal to board a Union Company’s ship on Thursday afternoon when they alleged that- the gangway from the ship to the wharf was unsafe. Men called to continue the joh on Friday night declined • the engagement and the Waterfront Commission, which had declared the vessel concerned to be a preference ship, decided that there' would be no calls for ships next on the list. The president of the Watersiders’ Union, Mr. H. Barnes, today issued a challenge to Caotain C. V. Stanich, Waterfront Controller, to debate the question at issue in the Town Hall before a public audience. Mr. Barnes reiterated an earlier statement that the question at issue was a very simple one. It was whether the gangway from the ship to the wharf complied with harbour regulations. He maintained it did not. The deadlock arose through Captain Stanieh’s action in declaring the vessel concerned to be a preference ship, he said. Captain Stanich would make no statement this morning on the subject of the safety of the gangway.