VOLUNTARY LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 6

VOLUNTARY LABOUR

LOADING OF FOOD SHIPS UKELY TO STIR TROUBLE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 16. The belief that the suggestion that volunteer labour should be organised to speed up the loading of food ships for Britain was likely to stir up trouble among the waterside workers was expressed to-day by Mr W. Ashton, secretary of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council. Mr Ashton said the proposal had not been discussed by the council, but the belief expressed was his own. He stated that as a member of the Labour movement he felt that the Government would make an appeal if the need for labour was so great. It had to be remembered that the Waterfront Control Commission had shown how impracticable a voluntary labour corps would be. For instance, arrangements would have to be made for the operation of auxiliary services, such as railways, freezing works, cool stores, 'and cranes and winches. It appeared that the organisers had given no thought to these aspects, Mr Ashton declared. The attitude of the, Auckland Waterside Workers' Union is not available. The secretary of the union, Mr It. Jones, said this morning that the union president was absent in Wellington, and any statement would have to come from the national executive.