DELAY TO LINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23134, 5 September 1938, Page 11

DELAY TO LINER

STATEMENT BY MASTER WATERSIDE UNION'S REPLY ONUS PLACED ON EMPLOYERS Outspoken comment by Cnptain IL. R. Johanson, master of tho Matson liner Monterey, concerning delays to the handling of the ship's inward cargo at Auckland on Friday, was the subject of strong criticism in a statement issued on Saturday by Mr. H. G. .Tones, president of the Auckland branch of tho Waterside Workers' Union, unci Mr. W. .T. Cuthbort. the union's walking delegate. Captain Johanson'a remarks on the urgent need of reorganising the present stevedoring system of the port were termed by the union's officials an "hysterical outburst.'' The foundation for the union's argument was that cooperation seemed to bo lacking among the employers, who, it was considered, could have taken gangs from less urgent ships and placed them on tho Monterey. Everything Possible Done "Our job is to see that every man in the union is working," commented Mr. Jones. "It is not to make arrangements for the employing shipping companies. On Friday we did everything in our power to get the cargo worked through in time." To support this claim he j win ted out that only .'SO tons of tho ship's total cargo of 1500 tons was overcarried. Considering the amount of time lost through rain, this discharge could bo regarded as remarkable.

The statement pointed out that only I'.VIO men of the 1100 in the union were available on Friday, the total having been depleted through measles and influenza. The employers, after absorbing all available non-union labour, required more men, and, with union officials, called upon the placement office. When the required number had not yet been reached the crew of the Monterey were permitted to work on the same terms as the waterside workers. Similar action was taken in the case of the Wairangi, which was discharging at another wharf. Suggested Solution

"We maintain that labour from several ships not in urgent need to sail should have been transferred," said Mr. Jones. "This, however, was the employers' job, not ours. We reiterate that co-operation is needed among the employers and wo are willing to cooperate with them in any way wc can." Captain Johamton was accustomed to different labour conditions 011 the Pacific Coast, continued the statement, for in those ports an army of unemployed could be called upon when labour was urgently required on the wharves. Jf Captain Johanson is able 1o run the port of Auckland more efficiently than it is controlled at present, he should communicate with shipowners and devise a better scheme," the statement added. "Does he think that the Matson Lino ships, which are heavily subsidised bv the United States taxpayers, should have any preference over British ships, which are competing with American vessels under unfair conditions ?"