N.Z. WHARF CONTROL

Grey River Argus, 13 March 1940, Page 8

N.Z. WHARF CONTROL

The New Regulations WELLINGTON, March 11. Authority for the appointment ol controllers to administer the loading, unloading, and storage of cargo at New Zealand ports is contanied m a Gazette extraordinary issued to-night. The regulations defining the powers and jurisdiction or the controllers are known as the Waterfront Control Emergency Regulations, 1940, and they were made in accordance with the Emergency Regulations Act, passed last session of Parliament, at a meeting of the Executive Council at Government House to-day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any legislation, the controller may do all such things as he deems necessary to ensure the utmost expedition in the handling of cargo at the port for which he is appointed.

An interpretation clause defining a wharf states that it also includes any place belonging to, or in the possession of or under the control of a harbour board. It also includes any railway or public highway so far as it intersects or is contiguous to or runs on any wharf. Controllers are to hold oilice during the pleasure of the Minister for Labour. A controller is authorised by the regulations to do any of the following things:— (a) To control, use, or administer any wharf or wharves, including any gear or equipment thereon, and also any barges, lighters, and other vessels. (b) To direct in such manner as he may think fit the loading, unloading, or storage of cargo at any wharf or wharves, or the loading or unloading of any barges, lighters, or other vessels. , ENGAGEMENT OF LABOUR. (c) To take such action as he may think lit to ensure the loading, un_ loading, or storage of cargo in or from any ship, or the continuation of any such work by workers employed for the purpose. (d) To direct the continuation of any existing methods of engaging labour and paying workers, to order variations thereof, or to take over the control of any offices and staff connected therewith. (e) To introduce any new method of employing labour or new system of handling cargo. (f) To employ all such waterside workers and other persons as he> may think necessary for the loading, unloading, and storage of cargo. (g) To classify in such manner as he may think fit the workers available for employment on the waterfront.

(h) To enter any premises in which there is reason to believe that any gear or equipment is stored, and to take an inventory thereof, or by order in writing authorise any other per-

son or persons so to do. (i) To hire, or by order in writing requisition, any gear or equipment used or suitable for use m the loading, unloading, or storage of cargo whether such gear or equipment is at or on any wharf or not. (j) To co-ordinate the activities oi any person or bodies concerned in the use, control, or administration of any wharf or wharves. (k) To exclude from any wharf or wharves any person whose presence on such a wharf on wharves is, in the opinion of the controller, prejudicial to the expeditious loading or unloading of cargo, or the dispatch of shipping. exclusion from wharves. (l) To suspend for any period he may think fit, or to exclude from waterside work any person for mis conduct, refusal, or failure to comply with any reasonable demands, oi lor anv other good reason. (m) Bv order in writing to authorise ‘any other person to suspend anv Person as provided in the last precedFng paragraph, and to exclude any person so suspended from any , or wharves, pending the decision of the controller. (n) To require any person to fur nish from time to time such returns, statements, statistics, or other mX relating to matters cormng within the jurisdiction of the con^ 01 er as he may deem necessary, and to require that any such information be verified by statutory declaration, and to examine any records from which such information is obtained, and to enter any premises for that purpose. (o) To make any order in respect of any matter coming within his jurisdiction. The Minister for Labour may st.s_ pend, in whole or in part, all or any of the provisions of the Industua , Conciliation and Arbitration Act, or the Labour Disputes Investigate Act 1913, or any awards or industrial agreements under these acts m so far as they apply to workers engaged in the handling of cargo. 'An order excluding any. person from a wharf shall remain in force till revoked by the controller. To remain on a wharf or to loiter nearby in contravention of an exclusion order is an offence against the regulations. It is also an offence to attempt to prevent, delay, or otherwise interfere with the expeditious loading, unloading, or dispatch of any ship. Failure to comply with any direction or decision of a controller is also an offence.

If a controller decides to exercise his power to requisition any gear or equipment, notice in writing shall be given to the owner, and in such cases reasonable payment shall be made, and compensation paid for any loss or damage in connection with the equipment concerned.

The appointment of Mr R. E. Price as controller for the port of Auckland is validated by the regulations. MR FRASER’S CALL TO WORKERS. WELLINGTON. March 11. The waterfront dispute at Auckland was referred to inferentially by the Deputy-Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), in an address at a recruiting rally in the Wellington Town Hall this evening. Those who could join up with the forces should do so, Mr Fraser said; but everybody else should do their best. He appealed to the industrial workers of the Dominion to do everything possible in the factories, workshops, on the wharves and on the farms to give 100 per cent, efficiency, because a great deal depended on them.

“If we do not do it, we are helping the Germans to fight our own country,’' Mr Fraser said. “I won’t believe that there is any section of the workers in this country who will wil-ling-y i'.nd knowingly jplace themselves, by their action in hindering the British and New Zealand efforts, deliberately on the side of Hitlerism and Nazism.”

After referring to the way members of the Transport Workers’ Union in Britain had volunteered for work in the transport of the British Expeditionary Force to France, Mr Fraser said the men on the waterfront in Wellington and Lyttelton had helped excellently when the convoys left, and at Lyttelton had worked all night. “We give them full credit for that, and hope that that spirit will prevail,” he added. CABINET MEETING. WELLINGTON, March 12. Reports of the negotiations at Auckland yesterday morning with the men, were made to a meeting of Cabinet this morning by the Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan. When Cabinet adjourned at one o’clock, Hon. P. Fraser stated that Cabinet had had conveyed to it a resolution passed by a large majority at Auckland this morning to the effect that, in view of the Government having taken action to control the waterfront work, the men would return to work at eight o’clock to-mor-row morning, pending negotiations.

Wellington Attitude

NO OVERTIME WORKED. WELLINGTON, March 12. The Wellington watersiders, who were employed yesterday in several ships, refused calls to work overtime last night. One ship was an overseas vessel which had already been delayed some days by machinery repairs.

The refusal of the local watersiders to work overtime, last night was described by representative employers as “not only a breach of the award, but also as a breach of the strike and lock-out regulations, 1939”. It is understood that the employers intend to follow the same course as has been adopted in Auckland, by dismissing the men who refuse to accept overtime work.

Work was stopped yesterday afternoon on a small overseas trader owned by the State, because the mon in the ship objected to certain employees of the Harbour Board unloading trucks. Over 400 members of the Wellington Watersiders’ Union refused to work overtime, last night. Nine ships were affected, five’ of them being overseas vessels.

The engagement of labour and the handling of cargo proceeded norm-

ally, this morning. A meeting of employers of waterside labour is being held this afternoon, to consider the situation on the Wellington waterfront. Overtime calls for between 600 and 700 men are listed for this evening. Wellington Union NORMAL WORKING. WELLINGTON, March 12. On receiving official advice of the Auckland watersiders’ decision, it was decided that the members of the Wellington Union would resume normal working forthwith.