HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27500, 21 September 1950, Page 6

HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

PARTIES CONFER SOLUTION BASIS DECISION OF UNION AWAITED Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Prospects for a settlement of the wharf dispute were considered tonight to be reasonably good.' A conference of ship owners and union representatives sat all day at the request of the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, and rose at 8.30 tonight until 1 1 a.m. tomorrow. Commenting on its deliberation, Mr Holland said that the chairman and members of the conference, which was held in an amicable atmosphere, were hopeful of a satisfactory outcome of their deliberations. In addition, there are clear indications of a desire by the parties to the conference for a settlement of the dispute.

The National Executive of the Waterside Workers Union will be asked tomorrow morning to determine whether it will accept the formula for a settlement evolved at today’s conference

In a long statement in the House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime Minister announced that emergency powers had been taken and the House endorsed the motion, but it was made clear that these powers would not be put into effect while discussions directed towards a settlement were proceeding.

The main points considered by the shipowners’ and union representatives at today’s conference were the rates for carbon black, which caused the Wellington dispute, and clause 17 of the main order of the' Waterfront Commission governing the transferability of deck men from one job to another. This second point arose particularly from an Auckland dispute. These were A two of four points on which the Waterside Workers’ Union in earlier conferences had demanded satisfaction. The four points at issue were that immediate steps be taken to wind up the Waterfront Authority and leave the way clear for the union to negotiate directly with representatives of the shipowners with a view to obtaining a satisfactory agreement on wages; a marginal rate of skill and the revocation of decisions of the. Waterfront Industry Authority, which, the

union claims, conflict with the terms of the main order of the Waterfront Commission, in particular the’decision affecting the transferability of labour under clause 17; an investigation of the actions of an employers’ official in the current carbon black dispute; and an investigation of the conduct of the Waterfront Commission, with particular reference to the management of’ the various bureaux and the imposition of penalties. The union’s action in withdrawing its representatives from the Waterfront Authority, as reported at an early stage in,the dispute, has in effect wound up the authority. The future control of the waterfront industry will be one of the subjects on which the proposed Royal Commission on the waterfront industry will be required to report. Meanwhile, carbon black and clause 17 remain the immediate issues.

LOCAL SCENE Nine Ships Affected HEAVY LOSS IN WAGES Watersiders at Dunedin and Port Chalmers will remain united behind the National Executive in any move that it makes in the present dispute, whatever the consequences. Telegrams from the national president requesting them to stay solid were read at brief meetings of both branches yesterday morning, and the men reaffirmed their decision to remain on strike. Already the men have lost heavily in wages since the dispute began. About 560 men are involved and their total loss in wages so far, including overtime rates of payment, amounts to more than £7OOO. At Dunedin, where about 330 men have been off work for a week, the loss is nearly £SOOO. About 230 men at Port Chalmers have been off since Friday and they have lost more than £2OOO Nine ships are now affected by the stoppage at the Port of Otago, with the arrival at Port Chalmers yesterday morning of the Government motor vessel Wairua from Bluff. Five of them are at Port Chalmers, while the others are at Dunedin, and together they represent nearly 50,000 gross tons of shipping. The Wairua is waiting to enter dock for her annual survey and for deck repairs. While she is laid up, the Wairua’s place in the ferry service between Bluff and Stewart Island is being taken over by the Nightingale. The inter-colonial freighter Kopua is in dock, waiting until the strike is settled to move to the Union Company’s wharf to complete her survey. Other ships at Port Chalmers are the overseas vessels Rangitata and Sussex, which are discharging and loading cargo from and to the United Kingdom. Berthed at Dunedin are the overseas freighters Port Lincoln and Wairimu ana the coasters Gale and Waipahi. The Port Lincoln has general cargo from London, and the Wairimu is carrying a variety of Eastern produce, including the second consignment of rice to reach Dunedin since the war. Although the 10,686-ton tanker Stanvac Manila is expected at Dunedin today, she will not be affected by the dispute. As far as tankers are concerned, waterside labour is only required to fasten and cast off vessels at the wharves. At Port Chalmers, the watersiders are prepared to fasten vessels only, but the Dunedin men will also cast them off—until further notice, according to the union. The Stanvac Manila is coming from Abadan, via Wellington. No action has been taken yet to pay off the crews of coastal ships.- Officials stated yesterday that probably no move would be made in this direction until the outcome of the discussions between the watersiders and the shipowners was known. The crews of the vessels awaiting to undergo their annual survey at Port Chalmers have been paid off. but that is the customary procedure when vessels undergo a survey. Harbour Board employees are not directly affected by the dispute, though for some of them it means less work. Crane drivers are being employed in other tasks. APPEAL TO UNION Federation Of Labour CO-OPERATION OFFERED PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. The Federation of Labour today sent a letter to the Waterside Workers’ Union offering to assist in promoting a settlement of the strike. The federation’s letter stated that thousands of workers among the 200,000 unionists affiliated to the federation were likely to become involved if the dispute were not quickly settled. The National Executive of the federation sincerely offered co-operation and assistance in an endeavour to bring about a satisfactory settlement and requested the union to accept this offer in the spirit in which it was given. The federation’s letter added: “We would request you, in the interests of the labour movement as a whole, to refer the dispute to us for direct negotiations towards a satisfactory settlement.” The union was asked for an immediate reply. Twenty-nine representatives of unions affiliated to the Federation of Labour attended a meeting today at which j the wharf dispute was discussed! The executive of the New Zealand Trade Union Congress resolved today to suport the watersiders and to take what action might be necessary to ensure a satisfactory settlement of the dispute. The secretary, Mr A. B. Grant, said tonight that the TUC executive was in close consultation with the Waterside Union.