WATERFRONT LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 237, 8 October 1941, Page 7

WATERFRONT LABOUR

CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND HOPE FOR BETTER ERA EXPRESSED CONTBAI T SYSTEM FINDS FAVOUR 'Pres- Assn.' Auckland. Oct. 6. “The contract system was discussed very fully and it was general!) agreed that the system if extended to almost all classes of waterfront v. ork. would e a definite improvement." said the Minister of Labour. Hon. P. C. Webb, to-night, in a statement following conferences between the Waterfront Control Commission the executive of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, and himself. It was quite evident that the previous lack of co-operation between the commission and the union n> longer existed he said The contract system was relinquished by the Auckland Union in August a letter had been received from the commission complaining of the slow handling

of cargo, when it was announced on Friday that conferences would be h-ld. ’ The chairman of the commi.Nsion Mr. R. E. Price, said that since the union had elected a new executive the possibility of co-operation net ween the two organisations had dwindled steadily. An assurance of co-operation was necessary for the war effort. Mr. Webb conferred with the union executive this morning. An excellent spirit was shown by the executive. I which expressed a keen desire to establish most friendly relations between itself and the commission, said Mr. Webb. “A unanimous expression ■of goodwill and co-operation was made at the afternoon conference. 1 and. as a result there will be a bet•ter feeling on the waterfront which •will reflect throughout the country.” i the Minister said. The union executive would meet the commission to-morrow morning Ito go into details of discussion, said Mr. Webb. A number of difficulties had already been ironed out by the conferences |said Mr Barnes, president of the union Everybody was now looking forward to a better era on the waterfront than had prevailed for a long time.