Wanganella Black!

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1947, Page 5

Wanganella Black!

Seven 1 rade Unions Out In Support of Seamens Claims

P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. The Wanganella was declared "black'’ to-day by officials of seven trade unions and workmen doing repair work on the vessel in the floating dock left their jobs just after two o’clock. Discussions for a setitement of the dispute are probable to-morrow

A stop-work meeting was addressed by Union officials, and the men agreed to continue to refuse work on the vessel until the Australian seamen who struck on Tuesday for special danger rates, were given satisfaction.

Mr. E. V. Elliott, Federal Secretary of the Australian Seamen’s Union, said in the afternoon that he was still waiting to hear whether Captain McDonald, salvage officer on the ship, would be prepared to meet union representatives. Until he did, the New Zealand workmen had declared they would continue to consider the ship “black.”

Mr. Eliott said that on behalf of the seamen of Australia, he''wanted to express his satisfaction of the fine trade union spirit of the workers ol the Wanganella in their ready support of his men. Captain McDonald, asked to-night what his attitude was, said that he and the other salvage official on the ship, Mr. D. E. Eadie, would see Mr. Elliott and other union officials in the morning. Workers involved in the dispute are engineers, boilermakers, shipwrights, plumbers, harbour Board employee,s painters, and waterside carpenters.

UNION SECRETARY

Replies ro v Mr. Semple WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Mr E. V. Elliott, secretary of the Australian Seamen’s Union, said: “From my knowledge of the New Zealand political and industrial situation, I gather that the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, and other prominent members of the New Zealand Government, before they became members of the Government were advocates of the strike weapon as the only means by which the workers could secure proper recognition of their claims. I came to New Zealand because the Australian seamen on the Australian ship' Wanganella were extremely dissatisfied with the attitude of the salvage officer, Captain C. McDonald, and, secondly, because the Australian Government thought it necessary that I should be here to represent the members of the union.

He said shipowners and insurance company representatives in Australia recognised the wonderful work the men of his union had done, but they had not been in a position

to negotiate there. The Australian Government had Issued him with a No. 1 priority to get here, he s ld - “Those facts effectively answer J Semple’s hysterical outburst,” he added. The members of his union m the crew of the Wanganella were still aboard the ship They had been told yesterday by the master, Captain R Darroch, that they had not been dismissed. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. The published statement atributed to Mr E. V. Elliott, of Sydney federal secretary of the Australian Seamen s Union, alleging that because of the negligence of the officials aboaid the Wanganella on the previous night, the ship was grievously endangered during last Saturday morning’s storm was sharply repudiated by the master of the liner, Captain P. Darrock to“The statement is definitely incorrect,” he said. “The Wanganella was mored at Aotea Quay to the Harbour Board’s instructions. There was no question of negligence. Captain Darroch said the appearance of such a charge was regrettable. The Wanganella was not the only ship endangered during the tempest and in the case of a liner near the Wan■ganella emergency work on the lines had been required because of the severe conditions and the surge in the harbour. Ample provision had been made to secure the Wanganella. Captain G. McDonald, marine surveyor for the Huddart Parker Line and Mr D. E. Eadie, of Sydney, marine superintendent of the company, confirmed Captain Darroch s statement. . . The seamen who were involved in. the strike when the Wanganella was moved to the dock are still aboaid. No arrangements have been made for their return to Australia and there is a possibility that several of them will be required to give evidence before the magisterial inquiry opening on Tuesday.

Mr. Elliott’s Passage

HOW HE GOT PRIORITY.

(Rec. 10.5.) CANBERRA, Feb. 20.

The Prime Minister,. Mr. Chifley, denied that the Government had provided the Federal Secretary of the Seamen’s Union, Mr. E. V. Elliott with air travel priority to New Zealand. “The Union probably sent him,” he said. The Government certainly had not sent him, said Mr. Chifley. “This is the first I know of him being in New Zealand ” Civil aviation authorities in Melbourne issued a priority for Mr. Elliott to fly to New Zealand last week.

A spokesman for Tasman Empire Airways said in Sydney that up to nine seats a day were reserved for priority travellers named by the Department of Civil Aviation in Melbourne.