Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1939. WATERFRONT TROUBLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 94, 21 March 1939, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1939. WATERFRONT TROUBLE.

Hop-Es that a better spirit w-ould prevail in work on the waterfront have been dispelled by the events m Welling-ton in the past few days. Last week there developed a go-slow movement, the equal of' the most serious of the many which have occurred in the past. Statements issued by the secretary of the Employers’ Association reveal not only the grave extent of the movement, but also the serious cost to the country in the loading of produce that did take place and in the delays to shipping. The reason for the men’s action is not clear, and it is to be regretted that it should have been taken so soon after the national conference, givingthe impression that they were not sincere on their part. The effect has been to dislocate coastal and overseas shipping at Wellington. Important cargoes of primary produce are being delayed and ships’ schedules seriously interfered with. Other vessels have left port without being loaded and business interests and the country as a whole must stand the loss. The Minister of Labour, who has given considerable thoug-ht to the problem of removing the blot on waterside work in this country, is palpably concerned with the latest developments at Wellington and spoke strongly on the subject. The Government, he said, is positively disgusted with the turn of events, and whoever is responsible cannot expect any sympathy or consideration from the Government. Such censure is to be commended. No adequate reason has been forthcoming why the men should have adopted the tactics that have led to a large number being- dismissed and the Minister himself finds it difficult to ascertain the cause.

The Government’s responsibility in this matter has been clearly stated by the Minister, who is most disappointed that the conference he convened should have been followed so quickly by the present trouble. Disputes, it was laid down, should not be allowed to interfere with the working of the ports. In this case, some undisclosed factor has entered into the smooth working of Wellington’s waterfront, held up the loading of produce, seriously interfered with the movements of vessels, and added greatly to working costs. In unmistakable terms the

Minister declares that “if there are people who imagine that they ate a power superior to the Government they are mistaken. Our overseas trade must be carried on unhampered by hold-ups, and any hade unionist who retards the regular flow of trade overseas is acting against the best interests of the Government, the country, and particularly against his own industrial organisation.” Mr Webb has stated the case explicitly. There is a challenge to the Government’s authority in this matter which cannot be allowed to continue, for as the Minister adds, the Government has a duty to the and will see that “whatever happens the principles of trades unionism will be maintained and the seaborne trade of this country earned on in such a manner that our overseas markets will receive regular, shipments of produce.” It is to be regretted that immediately a dispute occurs on any waterfront national interests must suffer. The Minister sincerely desires to overcome this grave disability and it is hoped he will succeed. Only by a clear and definite understanding that disagreement between employers and workers must not be followed by the dislocation of shipping will the blot on New Zealand’s waterfront labour be removed. There js need for the strongest action in this matter.