Mountpark Decision As Soon As Possible

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1948, Page 2

Mountpark Decision As Soon As Possible

AUCKLAND, Wed. (Sp.).—The Mountpark tribunal completed the hearing of evidence yesterday. The chairman (Sir Humphrey O'Leary) said the members realised that the matter was very urgent and very important and would endeavour to reach a decision at the earliest possible moment.

Members of the Tribunal ore roiruun[f, <v together in Auculund to prepaid their findings, which they are discussing in chambers at the Arbitration Court. . Hopes are held out that they might • file their decision by Friday. Concluding his submissions yesterday, Mr C. A. Hamer, for the Watei side Employers’ Association, said: ■‘One tiling that has emerged from this dispute is the need for l.hc union to acquire a proper sense of its responsibility 'be- community and to its own members. “As far as the community is concerned, there nave bc-en inordinate delays to two very important cargoes of sugar and wheat and the men have lost in earnings. ‘ALARMING STATEM EN T’ “If the rule of law is not obeyed there must be that chaos which would result in any society where law. which derives its force from the respect paid to it. breaks down. The most alarming statement by anyone in this case was made by Mr H. Barnes when he said that the only redress of the men was to refuse to accept an 'unjust and improper decision.’ “Unless that conception is thrust aside we will continue to have trouble on the waterfront, because if, that is allowed, respect for judicial decisions of any sort must be turned into contempt. “1 would think that an industry in which there were no disputes was unnatural.

“But 1 would submit that the loader of an industry who expounds the doctrine that Mr Barnes proclaimed must accept the responsibility for industrial trouble.”

Mr Barnes, who left the room owing to illness immediately after the midmorning break, returned at 2.1.1 p.m. 10 address the tribunal. He said much had been made of Mr Clatt's letter, which was a corner-stone :f the dispute. It was not challenged that complaints began on the first day of working, concerning the weight anc! size of the Mo uni park's ha to h es.

“Concerning the falling of hatches, it seems that there has been an attempt mack 1 to cast doubts on the veracity of the men giving evidence,’’ Mr Barnes said.

“There are two men. employed by the Union Company, who did know of the falling hatches on the ship, be-

cause some of the cases were reported to them. It is a pity that counsel did not call them to give evidence." In calling in Mr Gait, the union had acted properly, in accordance with the Waterfront Industry Commission’s own order. Mr Barnes submitted. He claimed that Mr Galt in no way ex-

ceeded his authority. “CLEARLY ESTABLISHED

“I claim that it has been clearly established than on February 20 not only were the hatches not safe to remove by hand, but they were not safe to remove at all,” Mr Barnes continued.

The men were wrongly dismissed, he claimed. They should receive full payment for the time lost. If was the commission that, on March !, declared a lock-out and prevented work in the port continuing, said Mr Barnes.

Its action was that of a ruthless employer prepared to bludgeon men back to work regardless ol' the rights and wrongs of the dispute. Mr Barnes reviewed in detail much of the history of the Mountpark dispute. The commission had flagrantly violated its functions in imposing the oreference policy on June 24. said Mr Barnes. "Ml NY FATALITIES” The method of moving hatches on the Bioompark by rope sling's was safe, expeditious and not contrary to regulations. In dismissing the men, the Union Company was guilty of a clear violation of the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations. “Scores of fatalities and accidents ha ve occurred on the waterfronts of New Zealand through men having to handle these unwieldly and prehistoric type of hatch.” said Mr Barnes. “Watersiders follow a dangerous occupation, which takes toll of life and limb. As recently as last Thursday another of our comrades was added to the industry’s death toll. “Let those who think only in terms of celerity of shipping think that another life has gone. "I ask not only for payment in full for all members of my union through the course of both fhese disputes,” Mr Barnes concluded. “I also ask that this tribunal recommends action to eliminate this archaic type of hatch, action that will lessen the number of lives consumed by the rapacious shipping industry.”