MEN WARNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23601, 9 March 1940, Page 10

MEN WARNED

WHARF DISPUTE GOVERNMENT ACTS WOBKEBS DISMISSED MOVE BY EMPLOYEES A message from the Government asking the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union to show reason why it should not be deregistered. and the dismissal by the employers of all men who declined overtime work, were features of the situation on the Auckland waterfront yesterday. Since Wednesday the union has refused to work overtime until claims for a new award covering waterfront conditions in New Zealand are met. In addition to the move by the Government and the shipping companies, the chairman of tlie Auckland Harbour Bonn!. Mr. W. J3. Darlow, after slating that the situation was the result of an organised attempt by a minority in the union to "torpedo" tho export of New Zealand's produce, said the board would call for volunteer labour 011 Monday morning if a solution had not been reached bv then.

Government's Serious View A day of surprise moves opened with a special slopwork meeting of the union yesterday morning, when a telegram Has received from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, stating that the Government took a serious view of the situation, and asking tho men to advise him immediately of their attitude. The union replied that the men would continue in the same frame of mind until the ship-owners had intimated their willingness to meet tho workers for the purpose of negotiating a new agreement. Implications that the present position was brought about by Communist influence were emphatically denied at the meeting.

Apparently, acting on instructions received from the headquarters of shipping companies in Wellington, the employers dismissed men who refused overtime work last night when the customary call was made about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. About 1000 men were working on vessels yesterday and a large majority—all those on ships which normally would have worked overtime last night—were put off work.

Men to Meet To-day Following the provisions controlling the Auckland waterside labour bureau, a call for labour will be made this morning, discs being exhibited to all men except those dismissed yesterday, jf work is refused, the entire union will have failed to comply with award conditions, according to the claim of the em plovers, who hold that in this e\cnt the next move must come from the Government. An indication of the Government's intentions was given late yesterday afternoon, when the union was asked to give reasons why it should not be deregistered. This action, together with that of the employers, will be discussed at a special stopwork meeting of the union at 8 o'clock this morning. The entrance of the Auckland Harbour Board into the dispute follows a statement made by the chairman on Wednesday, when ]\lr. Darlow emphasised that the board had power to take over the control of waterfront labour on its wharves, and said that this power would used if necessary.

UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT minister disappointed AUCKLAND BRANCH'S MOVE [BY TELEGRAPH —PIVKSS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Friday Asked if he was prepared to comment on an Auckland Press Association message stating that the Auckland watcrsiders were still unprepared to work overtime until the claims for a new award were met, the Minister of Labour, tho Hon. P. C. Webb, said the Government was very disappointed at tho attitude adopted by the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union.

"The least we might have expected for tho privileges waterside workers enjoy was that they would comply with their agreement along constitutional lines until that agreement had been superseded by a fresh one," said Mr. Webb. "The Auckland branch was well aware that tne Government was" doing its utmost to negotiate a new system in co-operation with tho executive of the Watcrsido Workers' Federation and the shipowners of New Zealand with a view to evolving a method that would be of immense advantage to tho waterside workers and to the country. However, before giving us a chance to complete this work, they saw fit to attempt to frustrate these efforts to bring about much needed reforms.

"The branch is definitely acting unconstitutionally with its own federation and likewise with the New Zealand Federation of Labour, as both bodies should be the mouthpiece of the different branches comprising their organisations. The Government hopes that common sense will soon prevail and that Auckland watersiflers will remain true to the real principles of unionism and not revert to 'rafferty ride' methods."

LARGE SHIPS IN PORT SOME TAKING PRODUCE LOADING TIME LOST Seven overseas and large coastal vessels, aggregating nearly 50,000 tons gross, are now berthed at Auckland. 1 wo of them aro British steamers loading produce cargoes, and there are also British ships discharging Australian and overseas goods. The loading programmes of the two largo British steamers have been seriously affected by the lack of overtime work since Wednesday, four hours daily having been lost in this way. Two more ships, ono tho Japanese motorvessel Tokyo Maru, are scheduled to sail to-day, but their departure is uncertain. Hie Finnish barque Penang is not affected by tho dispute. She completed discharge on Thursday and has since been preparing for her departure ior New Plymouth this morning. \