HARBOUR BOARD STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 122, 18 February 1944, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD STATEMENT

The Wellington Harbour Board yesterday issued a statement giving an outline of the dispute on the overseas vessel, which led to the present complete stoppage’ of work. The board said that an overseas vessel had among her cargo a quantity of special cargo which required under the order of the Waterfront Control Commission three, extra men for stacking purposes on the wharf. These three men had been working in the shed alongside the vessel for several days previously loading goods' into merchants’ carts, and were

transferred to stack outside the shed this .special cargo the vessel had to land. When this work was completed, the same three men were ordered back to the same shed to resume the same work of loading merchants’ carts, but declined to do so. “The men concerned were then informed that unless they returned to their work to load carts their pay would be stopped,” continued the statement. ‘ The matter was immediately reported to the Waterfront Controller with a request that the commission should take some action, but shortly afterwards the men on the ship itself decided to cease work, and no work has since been performed on that vessel. , , TT . *‘The orders given by the tlnrbour Board are in conformity with the Waterfront Control Commission, and the general order of the commission further and clearly provides that the work of the employer shall always proceed as if no dispute had arisen, and if any dispute or difference shall arise between the parties, it shall be referred to the disputes committee. “During the last few months there has been a tendency on the part of the union to take direct action in enforcing their demands instead of following the constitutional way. , . \ , j “.Seeing this .overseas vessel is to load perishable cargo urgently required, the delay must necessarily cause suffering and inconvenience to those affected.