"GO-SLOW" PLAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19891, 20 March 1939, Page 7

"GO-SLOW" PLAN

WELLINGTON WHARVES GANGS DISCHARGED PRODUCE AFFECTED MINISTER CRITICAL (P«r Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Replacing nearly 500 men dismissed yesterday on the ground of "go-slow" work, the Waterside Labour Bureau at 8 a.m. to-day put out disks for three gangs for the Maunganui, two for the Piako, two for the Doric Star, and three for the Rangitata, and the men were engaged. At 9.20 a.m. one gang on the Doric Star was discharged lor going slow and 10 minutes later the remaining gang. At 9.35 a.m. two gangs on the Piako were discharged, and at 9.55 a.m. two on the Rangitata. The gangs on the Maunganui were discharged at about 10.30 a.m. Since the hours of engagement for labour end at 10 a.m. no more men could be taken on.. A number of non-unionists were available at 8 a.m. and expected engagement, but were dissuaded by union representatives and walked away from the engagement stand. The bureau subsequently was unable -to engage any non-union labour. Bureau Roster Nearly Exhausted There are 1130 men on the register of the bureau, as distinct from the Wellington Harbour Board, ai:d today's developments went close to exhausting the number of men available. Usually there are from 150 to 180 men on sick leave and the position is further complicated Ly the fact of races being held at Trentham today. Only 240 men were available at 8 a.m. and of these 78 were required to man the inter-island ferries, which have been working without interruption, leaving roughly 100 men for thr four overseas boats mentioned. Other boats required labour but could not be manned. The Wellington Harbour Board's permanent hands are working on the handling discharged cargo. Union officials emphatically refuted a suggestion that the trouble was due to resentment of the remarks cf the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, at the recent waterside conference. The Minister's remarks had absolutely nothing to do with it, said one of the officials, and a statement to that effect was quite incorrect. Serious Tosition The position in regard to the Doric Star is serious as she has a quantity of chilled beef, which is likely to deteriorate, still to load to-day. There the chilled beef will be aboard by to-night or, in the opinion of an official of the Blue Star Line, it will be useless. This afternoon it was intended to continue loading with non-union labour and it was anticipated that all the chilled beef will be abroad by midnight. Frozen meat and general cargo such as fruit, butter, and some thousands of bales cf wool are not being touched until the perishable cargo is loaded. "Government Disgusted" Interviewed, Mr. Webb stated that the Government was positively disgusted with the turn of events on the waterfront and whoever was responsible could not expect any sympathy or consideration from the Government. "We hoped when we called the conference," he said, "to create a better spirit in the whole workings on the, waterfront, and with the possible exception of Wellington, I feel safe in saying that a better spirit does prevail! What has happened in Wellington it is difficult for me to ascertain, but the Government is compelled under the circumstances to take a serious view of the present situation and is determined that these hold-ups shall stop. "If the employers are to blame we will have them understand that the produce of this country is not going to be held up and the market sacrificed because of their action. "If the waterside workers are to blame and if they have, as alleged, deliberately adopted a go-slow policy, then the watcrsiders must realise that there can be only one Governmnt and while we will stand by them one-hun-dred per - cent to maintain a standard of living undreamed of in the past, at the same time we demand the same degree of reciprocity from the men who work on the waterfront. "If the watcrsiders expect to retain limitation of membership in the bureau system of engaging labour, together with equalisation of hours, they should give service to the industry and comply with the terms of the award. "When a dispute arises it should be dealt with through proper constitutional channels without any interruption of work. "Watersiders' Responsibility" "The waterside workers of this country have a responsibility to their own organisation ,to the industry and particularly to the Government. We expect them to carry out that responsibility, and if they do not do it it will be the duty of the Government to see that the work will be carried out by men who will recognise that responsibility and thereby uphold the best traditions of trade unionism. "The Government will do everything in its power to maintain these traditions, but if there are people who imagine that they are a power superior teo the Government they are mistaken. "Our overseas trade must be carried on unhampered by hold-ups, and any trade unionist who retards the regular flow of trade overseas is acting against the best interests of the Government, the country and particularly against his own industrial organisation. "The Government has a duty to the people of New Zealand. It will not shirk that duty, but will see to it that whatever happens the principles of trade unionism will be maintained and the seaborne trade of this country carried on in such a manner that our oversea markets will receive regular Shipments of produce."