AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1940, Page 5

AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS

CONTROL ENFORCED ■■ ■ i ' '•. ' . • EXTRA TIME TO BE WORKED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, July 15. Members of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union who refuse to work extended hours when called on in future will be deprived of preference of employment thereafter, according to an announcement made by the chairman of the Waterfront Control Commission, Mr R. E. Price. Notices to that effect have been prominently - pp'sted on the Auckland waterfront. This action has been taken by the commission

after difficulty over the working of cargo on the Matson liner Monterey. Mr Price visited Auckland to deal with the anticipated trouble, and by the use of non-unionists the vessel was enabled to leave for Sydney at 11 p.m. on Saturday. In reply to an inquiry regarding the difficulty and its solution, Mr Price said the commission received advice in Wellington on Thursday that it was doubtful whether certain Auckland members of the , union would work extended hours on the Monterey. He accordingly came to Auckland on Friday as representative of the commission, ancl at 7.30 a.m.' on Saturday addressed a mass meeting of the men, explaining the necessity for greater effort in the dispatch of ships. He also made it clear that the commission was the sole authority for determining the urgency and need for working extra time.

The port was busy, Mr Price continued. All the men employed on the Monterey on Saturday morning were non-unionists, with the exception or less than a dozen. When it was necessary to work after 6 p.m., this minority was not called upon to continue, and other men were taken on to make up the full complement. Under a previous arrangement, members of the crew drove the winches. Loading was. completed in time to allow the vessel to leave bn schedule, and the shipping company expressed itself as very well pleased with the way the men had worked.

MINORITY GROUP. - “Apparently a group within the ranks of the union, and forming a minority of the total membership, has failed to realise the necessities of the war situation, and the obligation to comply with the orders of the commission, which are directed toward increasing the national effort,” said Mr Price. “Steps have been taken to restrict preference of employment to those members who are prepared to carry out the orders of the commission. Workers who are not prepared to do so will no longer be allowed to enjoy the privileges granted by the commission, for they will be replaced without difficulty. The national executive of the union is cooperating fully with the commission in this matter. The national president, Mr J. Flood, addressed the men in the lunch hour to-day, and read a statement from the commission to the effect that its orders and instructions must be carried out. This statement has been endorsed by the national executive. “Union members all over New Zealand have worked extended hours on more than 200 occasions,” Mr Price added, “and the dispatch of a large number of vessels has been accelerated in consequence. The great majority of them realise that their security and standard of living depend on victory against the forces of destruction, material, mental, and moral, and are directing their effort along lines that will assist the national effort to the utmost. Those who fail to recognise their obligations will soon have plenty of time to reflect on their folly. They will not be allowed to bring discredit on their organisation, or to frustrate the efforts of those who possess a higher sense of citizenship.”