UNION STATEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 5, 5 July 1940, Page 9

UNION STATEMENT

LOYALTY OF WORKERS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day,

"There was no reason why the vessel should not have been able to sail with a full cargo without the men working beyond midnight," said the president of the Auckland "Waterside Workers' Union, Mr. T. Solomon, todfcy, referring to the vessel which sailed for Britain via southern ports yesterday leaving part of her cargo on the wharves.

Mr. Solomon added that during the vessel's stay the waterside workers were compelled to unload certain hatches and reload them again after transferring the cargo to other holds.

"I am certain the position will be altogether different when the Commission takes control of the port," he said, and declared that the men were not given proper notice of the need for overtime.

Referring to an offer telegraphed to the Prime Minister by the National Service Association to arrange for men to load ships at Auckland in any emergency, Mr. Solomon said: "I might point out that there are on the waterfront men just as patriotic a in that organisation, and who are prepared to assist the Empire to the utmost. If the public only knew of the muddle that exists on the waterfront on the part of employers they would realise that the blame does not lie with the waterside workers."

Other waterside workers said there seemed to be a definite move on foot to introduce the principle of night work, in spite of the fact that a definite promise was received that the principle would not be established.