THOSE DIVERTED US. SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 264, 8 November 1945, Page 5

THOSE DIVERTED US. SHIPS

WHY WERE THEY TURNED? MINISTER SAYS NOT BECAUSE OF N.Z. TROUBLES OPPOSITION IXJES NOT ACCEPT THAT VIEW (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 7. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Roberts, in the House of Representatives to-day, in a written reply tc Mr. J. T. Watts (Opp., R’ccarton) said that from VJ-Day the American forces in New Zealand had been preparing to leave at the earliest convenient date, and he \.as unaware of any foundation for a suggestion that the recent diversion of rhips from New Zealand was the result of any internal difficulties in the Dominion. Mr. Kidd, in his question, had drawn the Minister's attention to a report that, because of go-slow ta tics adopted by the Auckland waterside workers, 11 ships en route to New Zealand to load refrigerated cargo, valued at between 3,000,000 and 4.UG0.000 dollars, had been cancelled. Mr. Kidd added that cancellation would mean serious financial loss to the Dominion.

Mr. Roberts, in his written replv, said: “Representatives of the American Military Supply Office in New Zealand advise that all decisions regarding the routeing of vessels for war purposes are male by the United States High Command at Pearl Harbour, not by officers in New Zealand.” The Minister added that cessation of American refrigerated shipping from New Zealand would present a serious problem to the Government, on atcount of vegetables which had been grown specifically for American military needs (which were to have extended at least to December 31) not being uplifted. “Sudden cancellation will leave heavy quantities of green and root crops on our hands, as they mature over the next three months.” he said. “All other overseas channels of disposal, Including U.N.R.R.A., arc being investigated. Large quantities of vegetables will be dehydrated and full supplies of fresh will be made available to the public as far as transport makes practicable. Even with these measures there will be heavy surpluses but, in terms of growers contracts with the Internal Marketing Division, the Division will compensate growers whose contracts cannot be completed.”

Mr. Kidd, discussing the answer given by Mr. Roberts, said the fact that the Americans were leaving the Dominion had nothing to do with the case. It did not alter the fact that ships which were coming to New Zealand had been diverted. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser: Where did you get that from? Mr. Kidd: It was in the Press. Mr. Fraser: We had no information to that, effect.

Mr. Kidd: It was because you had a go-slow on the Auckland waterfront. Mr. Kidd added that the American attitude was that they could not afford to send their ships whore they would experience delays. Why did not the Minister lay his cards on the table, and say what the true position was? The time was long overdue when wo should take a stand against this sort of thing. There is so much produce now that the Minister did not know what to do with it. and the taxpayers would have to moot charges for compensation to the •■’rowers. A DISGRACE. Mr. Kidd said the vegetables we should be converting into dollar exchange were now difficult to dispose oi. it V-as a disgrace and should not be allowed to happen again, 'ihe Minister should stand up on the floor of the House ai d g.ve the facts. What action would the Government take in the future? Mr. Roberts said it was time to accept Mr. K.dd's challenge to give the facts when the latter had let his prejudice run away with the truth. It was true the watersiders had instituted a go-slow policy, and >t was true that certain representations were made to them to recognise that there was still an overriding necessity for foodstuffs grown in New Zealand to go up to the Pacific areas to feed the troops, even if the war had finished. The point was, however, that decisions in regard to American ships were taken at Pearl Harbour. “As far as I understand those ships never started for New Zealand from Pearl Harbour,” said the Minister. f The decision was one we must deal with in the best way possible.” The American authorities had taken responsibility for this food, and although they might never receive it by ship it would have to be taken irJo account from a financial point of view. ‘T give the lie direct to a report that any ships were diverted back. They were not. Two British ships were held up, but the decision on the Americai ships was made by authorities outside New Zealand. 1 deny that they were diverted back after starting for New Zealand.” Mr. G. H. Mackley (Opp., Masterton) said go-slow was very important to the New Zealand internal as well as her external trade. Owing to delays to four to five coastal ships, some 18,000 tons of cargo was awaiting shipment to the South Island, and several thousand tons of cargo in southern ports was awaiting shipment to the north. It was adversely affecting the country’s industry, and increasing costs of production.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said the Member for Masterton ha<; raised a very important matter. The transport services of the country could not be held up without causing disastrous delay. Those respa »siblc for the holdups in Auckland had no justification for causing injury to the economic life of the community, or for forcing the hand of the Waterfro t Commission. If that policy was to be practised, and every section ot the community was going to threaten industrial dislocation to get its own objective realised, it would be impossible to maintain the social life aid living standard of the country. Mr. W. Sullivan (Opp., Bay of Plenty): That action was more than a threat. Mr. Fraser: I know it was. It was the fulfilment of a threat, but it failed. The men went back to work. He said the question raised was a fair one, and. the honourable member had received an honest answer, but, instead ot accepting tht, he had preferred to accept a newspaper report against the intimate personal knowledge of the Minister. Did the honourable member think the newspaper reports were infallible? Was it not possible they might be wrong? The honourable member had preferred to accept a perverted viewpoint. There *was on indication that any ship had been diverted. They obviously would be a loss, just the same as there had been other war losses. He felt sure the United States authorities woulcl certainly recommend that an allowance be made accordingly. The matter was one for negotiation, along with other Lend-Lease issues. He agreed with the member for Masterton that wo could not afford such calamities as hold-ups in industry and commerce. Mr. Mackley: Can you do anything to relieve the congestion? Mr. Fraser replied that depended on what shipping was available. There was no justification for any trade union, employers, or farmers to

threaten fa stop work and injure tti" rest of the community just because their sectional demands were not granted. It was a difficult matter to deal with and nenalised the people, but reason must be soon, and there must bo co-operation if the country was to maintain its standard of living. Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opp.—Hauraki) considered the Minister of Agriculture had been anything but frank in his ronly. There was not the slightest doubt that the American' ships got their orders to d'vert because go-slow policy on the Auckland waterfront. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. ior the tea adjournment.