PRIME MINISTER ON FAST LOADING OF YUGOSLAV SHIP

Grey River Argus, 19 April 1948, Page 5

PRIME MINISTER ON FAST LOADING OF YUGOSLAV SHIP

Auckland Attitude in Question

WELLINGTON, April 17.

The statement made by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) at Mangakino that the’ Yugoslav vessel Radnik, owned by a Communist-governed country, was loaded faster than food shins to Britain, was reiterated this afternoon by Mr Fraser, who released the text of a letter being sent by him to the secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, which had challenged him to substantiate his remarks. In the letter, he stated that he had ascertained that the Radnik was loaded mainly by non-union labour, including a gang of Yugoslavs, but certain officials of the Auckland branch of the union took a. veryactive interest in the working of the vessel.

Mr Fraser quoted figures comparing the rate at which rhe Radnik was loaded with the average rate if work for the loading of overseas vessels at Auckland for the year ended March 31, 1947, as follows, with the annual figures in parentheses: General cargo, 27 tons a gang an hour (16.3); hides, 9.04 tons (11); wool, 110 bales (70). Mr Fraser explained to reporters that the low rate of loading hides on the Radnik was probably' due to the construction of the vessel. He said that on Friday, February 13, certain officials . of the union approached the stevedores for the vessel, the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, expressing concern that the Radnik might not complete loading in time to sail on the following; day, and suggested that, an additional gang be engaged. YUGOSLAV GANG ENGAGED “The stevedores pointed out that it. was past the time for the engagement of labour, and also that no additional labour was available. The Union officials, together with representatives of the Yugoslav Association who were present, stated that they would obtain a gang of Yugoslavs, and this gang started work on the vessel at 1 p.m. In the afternoon the officials of the Union complained to the stevedores of the vessel regarding the supervision and rate of work being performed by the regular non-unionists employed, and suggested that two gangs should be transferred from the Shaw Savill vessel, Athenic, which was discharging before loading foodstuffs for Britain. This was not agreed to. BREACH OF PREFERENCE OPD P R? Mr Fraser said he had also been informed that, while the gang of regular non-unionists was replaced in the usual manner at 1 p.m. on the Saturday when Union labour became available, the stevedores, at the request of the Union officials, did not replace the gang of Yugoslavs, although* sufficient Union labour was available. . This, he understood, was a breach of the clause of the commission’s order granting preference to Unionists, which orovided that when nonunion laboui' was employed, it should be replaced by Union labour when available. For that reason, Mr Fraser concluded, he considered his statement on the subject at Mangakino was completely justified. Engineers’ Union Elects Non-Communist Secretary AUCKLAND, April 18. Communist influence in trade union affairs in Auckland has received another setback. In a secret ballot election. Mr J. Mackie, a member of. the Communist Party', has lost the secretaryship 'of the Auckland Engineers’ Union. He was defeated by Mr A. H. Berry, who represents anti-Communist intersts. Five to One Majority The number of votes cast was a record for a postal ballot 'in the union, according to the president of the union (Mr S. V. Glading), who has been re-elected unopposed. Mr Berry is believed to have Rolled about 1900 votes and_Mackie 360.