WATERSIDE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 6

WATERSIDE WORK

STATE TO ASSUME CONTROL COMMISSION TO HAVE FULL POWER [Pek United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, February 3. Stato control of the waterfront has been decided on to ensure the efficient operation of all waterside activities and at the same time to provide the best possible conditions for the men employed. Making the announcement, the Deputy Prim© Minister, Mr Eraser, said the Government had decided to appoint a Waterside Emergency Control Commission with power to deal with the unsatisfactory conditions that prevail at the present time on the waterfront. In order to bring about a more satisfactory position, consideration was being given to vesting the commission with power: 1. To control the unloading and loading of ships. 2. To organise work on the waterfront so as to secure the expeditious unloading and despatch , of shipping, and: 3. To ensure reasonable conditions, continuity of employment, and adequate payment to the men concerned in the loading and unloading of ships. Mr Fraser said that while the Government would have preferred that .the parties concerned should have arrived at the solutions of the problems, the fact remained that the public was vitally concerned, and the Government, with a view to improving the conditions and avoiding any delays and hold-ups, had decided to set up the commission. New Zealand was at war, the Minister said, and the present conditions could not continue. We could not afford to take risks for our seamen, our produce, or our ships. The existence of the nation was at stake. The Government, therefore, was taking steps immediately to set up the commission, whoso duty it would be to control the loading and unloading of all ships in order to ensure the expeditious despatch of produce to the United Kingdom, the efficient operation of all waterside activities, and the best possible conditions for the men employed.