Complete Vindication Of Workers, Says Watersiders1 Leader

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 August 1948, Page 6

Complete Vindication Of Workers, Says Watersiders 1 Leader

(P.A.) Wellington, Aug. 16. “The Ivlountpark decision was a complete vindication of the waterside workers’ refusal to work unsafe hatches.” said the national president of the N.Z. Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr. H. Barnes) tonight. Mr. Barnes said he had not yet read the full details of the decision, but it was clear that it was of extreme importance to the trade union movement, because it upheld the principle that any working man, believing his life to be unnecessarily jeopardised, had a legal right to refuse to work. Perhaps, of still greater significance, was the finding of the Chief Justice that a decision of the Waterfront Industry Commission was not a proper one, and that the men were entitled to refuse to accept it. This must be pleasing to all freedom loving people, because it demonstrated that the Waterfront Industry Commission was not above all law and justice. Personally, he believed that the later aspects of the dispute were of less consequence. The decision of the Chief Justice not only completely vindicated the workers’ refusal to manhandle the Mountpark’s hatches, but should serve as an answer to those ill-informed and prejudiced persons who were so critical of the water-

siders. The next step for the Govern-' ment and the Marine Department, in view of the decision of the Chief Justice, should be to bring down legislation which would relegate heavy, antiquated type of ship’s hatch covering to the limbo of forgotten things. The action of the union representatives on the commission, Messrs. J. Flood and R. J. O’Donnell, in resigning from office, had been completely vindicated by the decision of the Chief Justice, said Mr. Barnes. Mr. T. Hill, secretary of the union, said it was pleasing to know that the union’s attitude had been sustained bv the Chief Justice. It had been proved that the union, like any other section of the community, was entitled to resent injustices.

He believed the case presented by the national president (Mr. Barnes) was unanswerable. However, on the final three points the highest judicial authority in the land had found against the union and the union must accept the decision. As a member ot the tribunal he wished to express his thanks to the Chief Justice for the able manner in which he had conducted the proceedings, and for the courtesies and assistance he gave to all members, said Mr. Hill.