70 MEN DISMISSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20328, 17 August 1940, Page 5

70 MEN DISMISSED

CITY WATERSIDERS REFUSAL TO USE CRANES REPLACEMENT LIKELY SUGGESTION OF PENALTIES (Poi* Prisss Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Seventy waterside workers were dismissed yesterday afternoon by die authority of the Auckland waterfront controller. Captain Stanich. when they refused to continue unloading the [Union Steam Ship Company’s motor jship Waiana with the use of cranes [after they had been engaged to work With the ship's gear. Six gangs were working the ship. !but two gangs, which were working aft. were not involved in the dispute. Work was commenced with the ship’s gear shortly after the Waiana arrived from Wellington early yesterday afternoon, but when the cranes were required to unload several motor cars in the ship, tlie men, maintaining that they had been engaged to work with the ship's gear, refused to continue. Captain Stanich was advised of the position and decided to dismiss the men. The two gangs aft continued to work with the cranes. The men dismissed will lie replaced this morning when there will be a call for labour.

It was too early to say what penalties the men would incur by their attitude, said Captain Standich, but the position would be reviewed and it was likely that some penalty would be imposed. He had made a report on the matter to the Waterfront Commission which took a serious view of such matters and had machines available to settle such disputes.