NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26606, 31 October 1947, Page 6

NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES

WATERSIDE UNION LEADERS PROJECTED VISIT TO ISLANDS P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. The attitude of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union towards the wages and conditions of various Pacific Islanders and the connection between the union and the Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation through the joint permanent executive was defined in a statement by the union to-day. The statement said that the reports published in different parts of New Zealand had attributed various policies to the union. For example, the statement continued, it had been said thai the union president, Mr H. Barnes, and the secretary, Mr T. Hill, were planning an aerial visit to the South Pacific to investigate wages and conditions and “foster trade unionism.” The union knew nothing of such re ported arrangements, and' such speculations were likely to give a highly misleading impression and raise a question of considerable delicacy, as. the New Zealand Government bad administrative tasks in the area mentioned. \ All that had happened, continued the statement, was that the union had received requests from the Pacific Islands for advice and assistance in organising better wages and conditions. The requests would come before the union’s biennial conference in Wellington on November 25, when it would be decided what action, if any, should be taken to help the natives in their problems. The union had an open mind and had no policy on the point. Doubtless the question would eventually be discussed with the New Zealand Federation of Labour and any representations to the Government would be made through that organisation. The joint New Zealand-Aus-tralian Federation was established in April, 1945, and long before that time there had been reciprocal visits between the waterside organisations in both countries. Two Australian representatives would attend the union’s approaching conference, the primary objective being the understanding of mutual problems on the waterfront.