HOLIDAY OBSERVED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21777, 28 July 1945, Page 4

HOLIDAY OBSERVED

DUNEDIN CELEBRATION LABOUR VICTORY MARKED (P.A.) DUNEDIN. July 28. Members of the Port Chalmers branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union to the number of about 80 decided not to work yesterday. In order to mark the victory of the Labour Party in Britain there was a procession from the office of the union to the cenotaph and back. Flags were carried and several members of the Union spoke of the Labour victory, after which the crowd dispersed. The president of the Port Chalmers branch of the union, Mr. W. Campbell, declined to make a statement on the matter. The men had been employed in loading an overseas vessel with meat and tallow. The crew of the ship affected bv the delay did not observe the holiday.

The Mayor of Port Chalmers, Mr. H. S. Watson, who is also deputy chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, commented: “No doubt the dismissal from office of those associated with Mr Neville Chamberlain and latterly with Mr. Winston Uuuu u .. .. .u their replacement by Labour members in such large numbers is a great victory for Labour, but I condemn the action of the Port Chalmers waterside workers in their method of celebration.

“The people of Great Britain have recently had a further reduction in their lood ration and the action of a section of the watersiders, no doubt a minority, in holding up a food ship oi one ctay, is both stupid and embarrassing. Instead of giving me newly-elected British Government a pat on the back, they have, figurativey speaking, given it a kick in the pants.” _ The Dunedin branch of Pm - side Workers’ Union, following the example set at Port Chalmers, decided to cease work from noon yesterday. The 240 men implicated were nandiing cargo on coastwise vessels.