LOADING OF SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 14

LOADING OF SHIP

NEW PLYMOUTH TROUBLE GOVERNMENT ACTION TWO WORKERS SUSPENDED [by telegraph—press association] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Government action has settled the disagreement between the New Plymouth Watersiders' Union and the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Company, Limited, and the loading of dairy produce on the Fordsdale at the port is now proceeding normally. On Thursday the union took exception to the employment by the company in the Moturoa cool stores of two men who had worked as volunteer labour on the licensed Australian intercolonial freighter Gabriella last month. The men were engaged loading dairy produce from the stores into railway waggons for transport to the port, an activity which the union countered by adopting "go slow" tactics. A statement was given to-night by the chairman of directors of the Freezing Company, Mr. L. J. Rundle. The company had carried out negotiations, said Mr. Rundle, and, in addition, the chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr. A. J. Murdoch, had met the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and the Minister of Marine, Hon. F. Fraser, in a discussion on the board's behalf.

Instructions to suspend the two men to whom the Watersiders' Union took exception until the Fordsdale had sailed in order that the vessel might resumo a normal rate of loading were received by the company from the Ministers today. At the same time an assurance was given by the Ministers that immediately the Fordsdale completed working the matter would be investigated. A stop-work meeting was held by the union, but no public statement was made. At three o'clock normal working was resumed and the Fordsdale is expected to sail for Bluff on Monday, having lost one working day.