EMERGENCY POWERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 6

EMERGENCY POWERS

WATERFRONT DISPUTE GOVERNMENT’S ULTIMATUM UNION LEADER CALLS FOR FIRM STAND Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The Waterside Workers’ Union showed no sign tonight of yielding to the Government’s demand that work must be resumed immediately on the waterfront. When the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, announced today that the Government would declare a state of emergency unless the watersiders went back to work, the union immediately ceased handling food and coal cargoes at Wellington. From tomorrow afternoon, if the Government s ultimatum is put into effect, the Government will have power" to use free labour or troops to get the waterfront moving again. Mr H. Barnes, president of the union, stated tonight that the following telegram had been sent to all branches: “ The national executive and Messrs Grant and Adams, of the Trade Union Congress, met Messrs Holland and Sullivan today. The Government will make no move against the ship owners or the Waterfront but proposes to declare a state of emergency against the workers. The national executive requests all members to stay solid and is confident that this will be done in accordance with the best traditions of our union.”

Unions affiliated to the Federation of Labour will meet tomorrow afternoon to determine their policy. The National Executive of the Trades Union Congress will also meet tomorrow when support for the watersiders will no doubt be pledged by the congress unions. The TUC miners have already stopped work on the West Coast. The watersiders thus face their worst crisis since 1921. On this occasion there is a considerable force of public opinion ranged against them. It is clear that the Government has acted with extreme reluctance in making today’s announcement but was under strong pressure to force the watersiders back to work. It was the hope of the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, and his Minister of Labour, Mr Sullivan, at the end of last week that the shipowners would be prepared to talk to the union, but the policy of the Port Employers’ Association has been one of adamant refusal to negotiate and insistence on firm action by the Government. It is believed in trade union circles that some way out will yet be found before passions are aroused by the introduction of force. The attitude of the Labour Party is awaited with particular interest.