STILL UNSETTLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 8

STILL UNSETTLED

AUCKLAND WATERFRONT DISPUTE

OVERSEAS SHIP DIVERTED P.A. AUCKLAND, Mar. 5. The first diversion of an overseas ship from the port of Auckland following the imposition of the 40-hour week by the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union was announced to-day. The Port Line’s 8700-ton motor ship Port Wyndham, which was due from Wellington on Monday to complete loading for Britain, will not visit Auckland and will be replaced at the end of the month by the company’s motor ship Port Jackson. >

No changes occurred to-day in the dispute. Work was resumed on the ships of the Union Steam Ship Company after the union had lifted its oneday ban. The union president, Mr H. Barnes, returned from Wellington, and on Monday morning he will address a stop-work meeting. The number of overseas ships at anchor in the stream rose to four to-day. “There is no change in the union’s terms of settlement in the Mountpark dispute,” said Mr Barnes. He said the union's legal adviser, Mr R. E. Fawcett, had received reports from two independent experts, Mr H. McGregor, a ship surveyor, and Mr Alexander, formerly chief surveyor for the Marine Department at Wellington, on the condition of the hatches of the • Mountpark. “After making a comprehensive investigation,” said Mr Barnes, “ these two men have condemned the hatches in no uncertain terms. They say the hatches do not comply in most respects with the regulations and that they are also unsafe.”