NO WORK ON AUCKLAND WATERFRONT FOR SECOND DAY: OVERTIME DISPUTE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23023, 13 August 1949, Page 6

NO WORK ON AUCKLAND WATERFRONT FOR SECOND DAY: OVERTIME DISPUTE

(P.A.)

AUCKLAND, Aug. 13.

on the Auckland waterfront was at a standstill for the

second day yesterday as a result of the overtime dispute. Waterside workers again refused to accept employment on condition that they worked night overtime hours.

The chief developments of the day were that picketing by groups of unionists was instituted at all wharves and an attempt was made to stop the sailing of the freighter Wai-

rimu for Calcutta. The Auckland Harbour Board chairman. Mr. W. F. McCall uni, announced that the board would not stand intimidation tactics and would close the wharves if the pickets crossed the hoard’s boundaries.

The Waterfront Industry Commission announced that discs would he hung on the hoard outside ils labour engagement bureau daily to offer employment to unionists willing to accept night overtime. As is usual on Saturdays, no call was made this morning. It is understood that yesterday’s meeting of the union considered recommendations prepared by the “lockout” committee. After the meeting the men stood around the waterfront in groups, but none lifted the employment discs. Early in the forenoon union pickets were posted on the waterfront. Day and Night Picketing Pickets posted by the union will operate in day and night shifts. This action has been taken in case any move is made to introduce "free labour” to handle cargo on the idle ships. The labour engagement discs put out by the Waterfront Industry Commission Bureau at 8 a.m. yesterday were withdrawn about an hour later. In the meantime the union meeting at the Port Building had lasted about 45 minutes. No further move has been made through the Shipping and Stevedores' Association to engage labour. With a complete deadlock reached, Government intervention is awaited. Waterfront circles emphasise that prompt action is needed to prevent a further deterioration of a situation which has now become a major waterfront crisis. Preparing For a Long Fight Watersiders’ officials have declared their intention to fight to a finish. One official said they were prepared to continue the struggle “until election day. after which we will be dealing with another Government.” Steps were taken at yesterday’s union meeting to prepare for a long-term dispute. The union appointed sub-com-mittees for picketing, publicity, and “economics,” in co-operation with a disputes committee of 41 members which will meet at 8 a.m. daily. The Devonport Ferry Company may have to cut the passenger and vehicular ferry services if the waterfront dispute continues. Coal Situation “Grim” “The coal situation is grim,” said a company official yesterday. “We have been working on a bare margin. However, the carriage of workers in the peak hours will be maintained to the last.” The Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company, which employs about 200 men in Auckland, will probably have to stop production soon. The company’s coal stock is not expected to last more than 10 days. “I don’t know what will happen to the men when the coal is finished.” said the secretary of the company, Mr. Malcolm Clark. The coastal shipment of dairy produce to Auckland from Whakatane and Opotiki is delayed. Butter from Hokianga and Whangarei is being unloaded from ships in port, this work being done by shipping company employees who are members of the Waterside Workers’ Union but whose work has been authorised by the union to save the butter from perishing. The crews of the coastal ships Tuhoe and Kapiti have been paid off.

Pickets sat on the Western wharf yesterday while South Island coal from the Kaitangata, which has 3000 tons for the Devonport Ferry Company and the Auckland Gas Company, was unloaded by cranes operated by Auckland Harbour Board employees. The discharge is expected to stop when a certain point is reached. Effect of Crisis on Supplies The future supply of bread is jeopardised by the waterfront crisis. Some grocery lines will disappear from the stores next week, and there will be no stocks of cement in Auckland. Bread supplies depend on the delivery of sugar. The Chelsea sugar works need Westport coal to refine the sugar, and their coal stocks are low. The majority of Auckland bakers have seven to 10 days’ supply of sugar for baking. Flour stocks are ample until November. Because' of the Auckland wharf dispute the Union Company’s freighter Wairimu left , Auckland yesterday for Singapore, Calcutta and Colombo, leaving behind about 300 tons of cargo consigned to the East. If no settlement has been reached by then the Canadian Australasian liner Aorangi will pass through Auckland on her voyage from Vancouver to Sydney next week without handling inward or outward cargo. A wireless message received from the liner yesterday stated that she would arrive at 7 a-m. on Wednesday. She will sail for Sydney on Thursday.