WHARF TROUBLES: QUESTIONS ASKED IN HOUSE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1949, Page 2

WHARF TROUBLES: QUESTIONS ASKED IN HOUSE

WELLINGTON, August 16 (P.A.). —Notice to ask the Minister of Labour (Mr A. McLagan) if he would consider bringing the Waterside Workers’ Union under the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court was given in the House of Representatives by Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki) today. He said this would allow the union to file immediately proposals and for the employers to be heard in conciliation within a limited period. Mr Sutherland said the efforts oi the numerous commissions set up had failed to find a solution of this problem.

Perishable Cargoes Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition, Waimate) gave notice to ask the Minister of Labour what steps he would take to ensure the unloading of potatoes now in the holds of the coastal vessels Waipori and Wairana in the port of Auckland because of the perishable nature of the cargo and because potatoes were being rationed in Auckland. Mr Kidd said recent reports said thousands of sacks of South Island potatoes could not be unloaded because of the waterfront holdup and merchants were advising shippers to send no more.

Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Patea) in conjunction with Mr Sutherland, gave notice to ask the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) if he had read the cabled report of a recent speech by the British Minister of Transport (Mr Alfred Barnes), in which he said that if he received an official invitation from the New Zealand Government he would be very glad to come to New Zealand to make an appeal for a greater spirit of co-operation and understanding on the waterfront.

Mr Sheat asked Mr Fraser if he intended to issue such an invitation. “It is understood that Mr Alfred Barnes is not related to Mr Harold Barnes,” Mr Sheat added, in a note to the question. Mr Fraser’s Reply Mr Fraser, replying immediately, said he thought there was no danger of confusing the identity of the two men. Their name was the same but their ideas on waterfront work were not.

Invitations were not issued in the manner suggested, said Mr Fraser. If a Minister in New Zealand got up and said he would go to the United Kingdom if invited to do so the people would laugh at him. “You can’t invite yourself to be invited,” said Mr Fraser. He added that he knew Mr Alfred Barnes and admired his able, efficient work as Minister of Transport.

“If Mr Attlee says he would like him to come here and speak his mind we will be glad to extend an invitation,” said Mr Fraser.