CARGO DELAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 8

CARGO DELAYS

GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN!iM WATERFRONT DISPUTES WARNING TO THE UNION ' 1 ill STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS ' T [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday -jl Although members of the Govern- I ment are greatly disturbed at the frequent recurrence of troubles with »1 regard to waterside work in New Zealand ports no legislative action to meet the position is contemplated this -V session. In view of the delays to shipping at Napier and Greymouth both the Prime''* Minister, Mr. Savage, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong,. were asked to-day to comment on the ;,f. fnatter and their replies were to the effect that the Government was contem- V plating taking action to prevent future ' troubles. i Need for Commonsense h'. "We cannot tolerate the present posi- " tion," said Mr. Armstrong. . "If the ? K watersiders have not got the commonsense to settle their difficulties themselves the Government will deal with i the matter. I am not discussing individual rights and wrongs in any par- . ticular dispute, but the fact remains ■; that there is a provision in the current agreement for the settlement of dis- V putes without any stoppage of work. 1f.., ; the union cannot control its men on - V the waterfront we will find another .. organisation to do it. No Government can tolerate this sort of thing any longer. It is inexcusable." Cabinet Sub-committee The Prime Minister agreed that. i frequent delays on the waterfront con- instituted a grave problem. Any hold up in the loading of produce was a serious IV matter. A sub-committee of the Cabinet had been appointed to consider the best method of dealing with the position and < to discuss the advisability of appointing some competent tribunal to make a thorough investigation. However, that sub-committee had not yet reported to the Government. "If action is required it will be taken," the Prime Minister added. "I do not say that the waterside workers are entirely to blame. There are interests in this country which would stop at nothing in attempts to discredit and embarrass the Government. As it is we t have had fewer troubles with the watersiders than have been experienced by previous Governments." STEAMER TITOKI IDLE

POSITION AT GREYMOUTH WATERSIDERS AVAILABLE ACTION BY THE OWNERS "3 [BY TELEGRAPH —rRESS ASSOCIATION*] GREYMOUTH, Thursday ' The Anchor Company's steamev Titoki, which arrived yesterday, ha# ■ not been worked at the Greymouth ; wharves and it is unlikely that work will be commenced to-morrow morning. Thirty men engaged at the 8.45 Call yesterday morning were available, but 5* the company cancelled the order as tlie ' vessel was about to enter the port in the afternoon. No reason for the can- . cellation was given and the efforts of 5 the Watersiders' Union to have a meet- £ ing of the disputes committee have not . so far been successful. It is stated that the working of cargo is done differently here from other ports, as here seamen are not v permitted on the winches except between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. :

The dispute has no relation to the recent disputes at Napier and Gisborne. The Titoki, which has a cargo >■ of cement, is the only vessel in port. ■-* The Gabriella and Kaimiro are expected to-morrow with cargo. ' TROUBLE AT NAPIER 4 * '• •_ • SERIOUS POSSIBILITIES V TO-DAY'S CALL AWAITED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] NAPIER, Thursday Whether waterfront di*» pute will assume serious proportion* 1 will probably be decided to-morrow morning by the action of the men when the 8 a.m. call is made for labour. • The dispute, which has seriously affected the export trade of the port during the last few days, was this afternoon submitted to a meeting of the National Disputes Committee at Napier. No agreement was reached and discussions were continued during the V evening. It is understood the shipping agents are awaiting the result of the call for labour, and that if the men do not turn out a serious position may M arise. J

The dispute arose from a difference \ of opinion between the men and the shipping agents about the payment of wages for Saturday, when the men were called but did not work owing to wet weather. They received wages for .. three hours at 5s 9d and two hours at . 3s 9d, but contended they were en- _ titled to £2 lis 7d for each man up to 5 p.m. on that day, and declined to work until the extra money was forthcoming. p - Between 50 and 60 men were ottering at 8 a.m. to-day, but after ing the labour lighter they came " again and declined to work, and a s * claimed that the whole 60 men should receive payment for Wednesday r rom ;I; 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. c