LINER DELAYED

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1938, Page 4

LINER DELAYED

UNION’S REPLY TO CAPTAIN. [FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, September 3. In reply to statements made by Captain R. Johanson concerning the delay to the Monterey through the handling of cargo, it was pointed out to-day that arrangemts were made a week ago for nine gangs of union labour to discharge the Monterey, but when she arrived yesterday it was found that, because of the large amount of shipping in port, only three union gangs ■were available for an 8 o’clock start. Four gangs of nonunion labour were then mustered and two more gangs were, drawn from tlie Monterey’s crew. Cargo that could be easily handled was unloaded into two lighters and discharged at the Princes wharf this morning. Wet weather hampered -work during the day, and the Monterey’s departure was delayed for two hours.

Taking strong exception to what he termed “this hysterical outburst,” Mr R. G. Jones (president) and Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, of the Waterside' Workers’ Union, issued a statement to-day. The foundation of the unions argument is that co-operation seemed to be lacking among the employers, when Mr. Jones could have taken gangs from other less urgent vessels and put them on the'Monterey. This had been done in the past, but was not done yesterday.

“Our job,” said Mr. Jones, “is to see that every man in the union is working. It is not to make arrangements for the employing shipping companies. Yesterday we did everything in our power to get the cargo worked through in time.” He added that there were 1400 men in their union, but only 1300 were available yesterday, sickness having reduced the total. When still more labour was required, the union and the employers tried the Placement Office, and when not another man was available they permitted the crew of the .Monterey to work on the same terms as the watersiders. Every possible method was used to co-operate with the employers in the distribution of the available labour.

Expressing the belief that Captain lohanson’s “hysterical outburst” was jropaganda, Mr. Jones asked: Does le think his company’s ships, which

are heavily subsidised by the United States taxpayers, should have any preference over British ships, which are competing under unfair conditions? He must not forget that Biitish ships are not allowed to carry passengers between ?_merican ports, while American ships are allowed to carry passengers between British ports.”