PROTEST VOICED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19503, 9 December 1937, Page 14

PROTEST VOICED

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE REQUEST FOR INQUIRY REVIEW BY MINISTER (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. When the House of Representatives met to-day, Mr. W. J. Poison (Nat., Stratford) moved the adjournment in order to discuss the position on the waterfront in Auckland. Mr. Poison said the question was a very serious one. A demand had been made by the primary producers for an investigation into the question of hold-ups on the waterfront, but it had not been complied with. These delays caused the hold-up of the shipment of primary produce, with consequent loss to the producer. The trouble in Auckland was the culmination of many acts throughout New Zealand which had tended to raise waterfront costs. Auckland was the worst port in New Zealand as far as costs were concerned. The Government, he declared, had not settled the strike, but had handed over negotiations to Mr. J. E. Roberts, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, and secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation. Mr. Poison said he wanted to know who was to govern the country—the Trades and Labour Council or members on the Labour benches of Parliament? The Minister of Labour, the Hon. IT. T. Armstrong, assured the House that the Government was anxious to maintain industrial peace and would follow constitutional means to achieve it. It believed that arrangements between the employers and the employees should be faithfully kept, and it was the business of his department to see that they were kept. Action Not Justified The Minister then outlined the history of the dispute at Auckland, and said that as soon as the Government had been notified of what was taking place, it took every possible step to bring the parties together. There had been a lot of talk about the losses suffered by farmers and merchants, as a result of the action of the men, but, in effect, the actual delay caused to shipping lasted only three or four hours. Wet weather during the remainder of the time of the dispute would have prevented the loading of ships in any case. Mr. Armstrong said he was not attempting to justify the action of the men. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat, Kaipara) said it was unfortunate that the hold-up had occurred, and now it was over the minds of the people were exercised as to the future. He emphasised the increases in the cost of waterfront work, and said the hold-up had been a serious matter for both the producing and business community. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, said the Opposition’s claims had been mostly political and to blame the shipping companies or the waterside workers would not solve the problem. They had to clean up the position, and there should be intelligence enough among them to see that things worked more smoothly in the future. The Government was not going to run away from its responsibilities in the matter.