THE NEW REGULATIONS.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14336, 12 February 1917, Page 4

THE NEW REGULATIONS.

JUSTIFIED BY HON. A. L.

HERDMAN.

tUnited Pbesb Association.]

Wellington, Feb. 10. The position in the watersiders' difficulty is practically unchanged . The only new gang of men engaged was for the.ferry steamer Mararoa.

Interviewed regarding the regulations giving power to the Government to take over control of -wharves in the event of an industrial disturbance, the Hon. A. L. Herdman said: "If Great Britain and her Allies are to be victorious, troops must be sent to the* front regularly and with expedition, and- the people of England provided with iood. When the mercantile marine i s being ruthlessly wrecked by thd enemy, ships cannot be allowed to remain idle at our wharves. Such a state ot aitairs would be intolerable! Tho position is much too serious to allow any troublesome section of the community to dominate the situation and decide for hew Zealand whether it shall or shall not be allowed to do its share of war work." The Minister added that the responsibility for the present? discreditable position must be placed upon the shoulders of a few mistakei* leaders. He exonerated the great bulfci of the men from blame. Mr HerdmaS also pointed out the heavy penalty that could be imposed on any person who conspired to prevent delay, or otherwjse interfere with the proper loading, Sft*"^ of any vessel it being £500 or twelve months' imprisonment, v .

w4. -a j C«sbori», Feb. 10. Watersiders declined to work car^u of the steamer Ripple that was loaded by free labour at .Napier, and the vessel tins afternoon proceeded to Wellington without dischargirig.. ' '. .;

mr ' ■ _ - Napier, Feb. 9. -Ihe steamer Ripple has bebri added to the^ black list; The crew' and firemen of lighters and the freezing operatives have struck, as have carters wh<i "were asked to assist. The Women's National Reserve have been asked to pick fruit and release growers for wharf work. ; The Farmers' Union is organising va* luntary laJbour; ■ ° I Trawlers are discontinuing operations iowmg to the shortage of coal;