Stop-Work Meeting Before Work Began

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1948, Page 3

Stop-Work Meeting Before Work Began

Auckland Watersiders

AUCKLAND, Fri. (P.A.)—Work resumed today on the Auckland waterfront.

All ships berthed were working normally except the wheat freighter Mountpark, which is still con%>letely idle, and the sugar ship Broompark, which was working two holds only. The Mountpark and the other holds of the Broompark will remain idle until the tribunal appointed to settle the dispute has decided how the hatches will be lifted. Before work started this morning the watersiders attended a stop-work meeting, which lasted 10 minutes. It was to give official instructions for the resumption. Between 1000 and 1100 men were idle before the settlement yesterday. Requisitions for labour today did not absorb all the available labour, and a few men returned home. The Mountpark will be removed tomorrow—after eight weeks of idleness at the Export Wharf—to set the berth free. The national president of the Watersiders’ Union (Mr H. Barnes) is returning to Auckland this afternoon from Wellington. REGARDED AS LOCK-OUT “The New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union still regards what happened in Auckland yesterday as a lock-out, and it will be asking for a proper inquiry into his latest piece of official ineptitude.” said Messrs Barnes and Hill in a joint statement. The 'statement contested the ministerial explanation why normal work did not resume at the Auckland waterfront yesterday afternoon.