WATERFRONT INQUIRY WILL BE HELD WITHOUT WATERSIDERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 October 1950, Page 6

WATERFRONT INQUIRY WILL BE HELD WITHOUT WATERSIDERS’ UNION

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA)—The Royal Commission on the waterfront industry will make its investigation, in spite of the Waterside Workers’ Union statement that it will not participate in the inquiry. The Minister of Labour (Mr Sullivan) confirmed last night that the investigation would be held—"that is very definite.” The union has said that, because of dissatisfaction with the commission’s order of reference, it will not partici- | pate in the inquiry, and that it does not consider itself bound to accept the commission’s find ngs. Mr Sullivan said that as the union had declined to nominate one of two technical advisers who were to assist the commission, none would be apappointed. A Bill restoring the status of a Supreme Court judge to the chairman of the commission (Sir Robert Kennedy) would probably be introduced in the House of Representatives this month. As soon as it t was passed the commission would begin its work.

"The only conclusion we can draw is that the Government's intention is not to have a full inquiry into al! matters, but rather to place an iron curtain around some parties and their actions, while declaring an open season on the waterside workers ” the union said. UNION’S EXPLANATION The reasons for the union’s decision are set out in a special supplement to the October issue of th official journal. It begins by quoting a letter from Mr Sullivan on behalf of the Prime Minister, which stated that the union’s request for a full and complete investigation into the financial position of all shipping companies trading to or on the New Zealand coast had not been specifically retorted to in the order of reference. He was of the opinion that whether the shipping companies were working at a profit should not be the determining factor in wages and conditions in the industry.

Replying to the Minister, the union said the order of reference was not acceptable. It said the- Prime Minister had given an unconditional guarantee that everything pertaining to the industry would be investigated. The union claimed that there was no provision in the order of reference lor specific investigation into the financial position of all shipping companies, freight rates and the way they were determined, increases since 1939 and their relation to watersiders’ costs. The union’s assurance to accept all the findings of the Royal Commission had been given on the basis of unconditional assurances by the Prime Minister that all matters would be subject to investigation. The Prime Minister was now not honouring his assurances, and in view of this the union felt it was automatically relieved from the assurances it had given. It was also not interested in appointing technical advisers on the lines that had been suggested by Mr Sullivan. The letter to the Minister was signed by the national president of the union, Mr H. Barnes, the national secretary, Mr T. Hill and the national vice-president, Mr T. G. Wells. In an article accompanying the reproduction of the union’s correspondence with the Minister, it is stated: "Quite clearly and categorically we announce in advance that we do not frit end to participate in the Royal Commission —we are not bound to accept its findings.”