MAUI POMARE BACK IN AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 December 1947, Page 6

MAUI POMARE BACK IN AUCKLAND

LABOUR DISTURBANCES IN COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER’S VERSION IS CORROBORATED

(P.A.) Auckland, Dec. 26. Friction between the workers of the Cook Islands Progressive Association and members of the Govern-ment-sponsored Cook Island Workers’ Union over the supply of labour to shipping seriously affected the recent voyage of the Government motorvessel Maui Pomare to the group. On her return to Auckland today It was stated that the Maui Pomare was idle for ten days at Rarotonga and was not worked at all at Aitutaki. The motor-vessel reached Rarotonga from Auckland on December 2. Since the formation of the union earlier this year the ship had been supplied with equal numbers of men by the association and the union. On this voyage, however, the association demanded the right to supply and nominate all the workers for the ship. This was not acceptable and the Maui Pomare was declared “black.” Rough weather forced the ship to put to sea from the roadstead several times. After a wait of ten days, during which repeated calls were made for labour, the union supplied a full muster of workers. At Aitutaki, the next port of call, the Cook Islands Progressive Association, in sympathy with its members at Rarotonga, refused to work the Maui Pomare and the ship was despatched, leaving 117 tons of copra and 500 boxes of mangoes unloaded. Her consignment for Aitutaki of 100 tons of foodstuffs, has been brought back to Auckland. The Maui Pomare called at Apia for water and was placed under etrlct quarantine because of the New Zealand infantile paralysis outbreak. No doctor or pilot boarded the vessel, and when a water barge came alongside no physical contact was maae. After loading copra at Nuie Island the motor-vessel completed the round voyage to Auckland. New of the arrest of a number of men at Manikihi following the waterfront disorder reached the Maui Pomare, which does not visit that port. It was stated that at the time the resident agent was attending a conference at Rarotonga and that no European official remained. The men were put under temporary arrest to restore order when association and union members were fighting on the beach. Advice received bx the ship supported the explanation given of the disturbance by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). As at Rarotonga, th? association attempted to control engagement of labour for ship work and it chose the occasion of a schooner’s visit for members to refuse to work with labour generally recruited. Having left the job they then precipitated a fight with the islanders who continued to unload the vessel. As a result of information received by the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union concerning the Manikihi episode, it was officially announced that the Maui Pomare might be declared “black” on arrival at Auckland. It was subsequently decided to take no action against the ship.