WATERFRONT DELAYS

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 21, 14 March 1938, Page 3

WATERFRONT DELAYS

MINISTERIAL HINT. GOVERNMENT CONTROL. Serious consideration has been given by the Government to labour conditions existing on the waterfront, and it is understood the point has now been reached at which there is a definite prospect that legislation will be introduced to set up an organisation which will take over the control of all waterfront labour. “The way the watersiders have been carrying on cannot be tolerated any longer, and if they have not the common sense to settle their differences themselves, we will speedily settle them for them, ,, declared the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong). The Minister’s attention was drawn to the present hold-up of shipping at Napier and Greymouth, and he was asked to indicate the Government’s attitude towards the disputes. “No Government Can Tolerate This.” “If the Union cannot control its men on the waterfront we will find another organisation to do it,’’ said Mr Armstrong. “No Government can tolerate this sort of thing any longer; there is no excuse for it.” “I am not saying that the men are not right in their protests or who is right or wrong,” the Minister added. “But they have provision in their own agreements for settling these disputes as they crop up from time to time, without anv interruption of the work at all.”

The miniature rifle shooting season will be opened bv the Kaikoura Miniature Rifle Club at the Drill Hall tonight. Intending members will be wel eomed. There was a large attendance at the dance supervised by the Kowhai Tennis Club, held in the Drill Hall on Saturday night. Music was supplied by the Hawarden Orchestra, extras being played by Misses M. and E. Wareham and A. Warner. Mr C. Wareham was M.C. Winners of competitions in connection with the Green Queen, are as follows: —Supper cloth: Mrs W. A. F. Wilson (Scotland). Pair of pyjamas: Mr C W. Beeves. Bug: Miss Watson. Sheep: Mrs E. Wallace, 1801bs (cororeet weight), Mrs Boss J79lbs, second. Scarlet Queen Box of chocolates No. 214, Wellington. Cyclists are reminded that nominations for the road race for Mt E. Fir Bin’s Cup close tomorrow evening. Good prize money is being awarded and a large entry is anticipated. A miniature cup (donated by Mr W. Sharplin; is to be given in conjunction with the Firkin Cup. for the road race to be run on Saturday next. Members of the House of Eepresew tatives debated the second reading of the Iron and Steel Industry Bill for several hours, Government members supporting the development of iron ore deposits by the State while Opposition members argued that private enterprise should be encouraged to do what was necessary to produce iron and steel in New Zealand. Several Ministers took part in the debate and all claimed that the failure of private enterprise at Onakaka in the past was sufficient justification for State development. In reply, members on the other side of the House declared that private enterprise had not been given the opportunity to succeed, and the Government was taking ? ve l after the ground had been proved at considerable expense to private individuals. The Bill was passek