STOP-WORK MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 11

STOP-WORK MEETING

MINISTERS ATTEND

APPEAL TO MEN

' ' Three : Ministers of the Crown were present at a largely-attended stop-work . meeting held by the Wellington. Waterside Workers' Union this morning. The Ministers were the! Hon. P.Fraser, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, and the Hon. P. C. Webb. Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of. the New Zealand ■Waterside '•' Workers': Federation, was also: present. It. is understood'that the purpose of the presence of the Ministers at the-meet-ing was. to'address the men on what was expected from them- in; their work on the waterfront.

One of the men,present.,at the meeting stated .afterwards in : conversation that it was the first time in the. history of. the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union1' that , thr.ee Ministers of,the Crown,had.attended a stop-work, meeting. . He added that the Ministers had addressed1 . the .■ gathering 'and. .had spoken in plain terms to the men, ap-, pealing to them to play the game and to give the utmost co-operation in the loading' and discharge of cargoes.

There are some who declare that the presence.of the Ministers at the Wellingtonl meeting has some connection with the position that has apparently developed in Auckland and to which last month the: chairman1 of the Auck-land-Harbour'Board (Mr. .C...G. Macindoe) drew, pointed attention. ':; According to a Press Association message from Auckland. published in;. "The .Post" ia't the time, Mr.'Macindoe contended'that ■the . operations ''-'-'of* the.-. port so far as waterside ; -workers were . concerned were an absolute/disgrace. The watersiders" were getting: more money and had reduced their ■ hours. .In .Auckland and in the'other main ports work wais restricted; tb an absolute minimum, and that was a' 'serious charge: on -the primary producers of .the country. ,; .

A's'far as a: "Pbst" reporter was able to ascertain today, while there is, some criticism of the .rate at which' some waterside workers in: Wellington' have been working-.for'..the: past, month' or two, the local position apparently is not on all fours with that to .which Mr!, Macindpe r.eferred"in Auckland.. ...;:

One/man in touch with , waterside, activities expressed-, the opinion that the position might.be described; in VfeV lington as being not', quite;as satisfactory as it, might be-in 'iespect: to the rate at which some men were inclined to'work arid;also in one.or two' other directions, especially,', in -view:. of , thefact that. .the. rates, of pay\ had . been increased.. '■'■■" ;; 'y ■■ ■...■.:.■-•'. Onthe other-hand, it.was stated, in another quarter that toidate thevwaterside workers. had given no real ..cause lor. complaint here.'or !at. any,of -the other ports, - with ■ thel exception of Auckland..-' '■;'' ■'■■■■':'-i\-''^\: ;.: '. ..., ■'■