WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21158, 6 July 1940, Page 5

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

EMPLOYERS CALLED MUDDLERS (By Telegraph.—rreaa Association) AUCKLAND, Friday Referring to the departure of a vessel only partially loaded on Wednesday night with produce for Britain, because watersiders refused to work after midnight, Mr T. Solomon, president of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, accused the employers of “muddling.” He said the watersiders had been compelled to unload certain hatches during the vessel’s stay and to reload them after transferring cargo to other holds, he said. There was no reason why the vessel should not have been able to sail with a full cargo without the men working beyond midnight.

DEFENCE BY MINISTER INVESTIGATION PROMISED rC‘’ ~ (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Friday An Auckland report that watersiders had declined to complete the loading of an overseas ship was mentioned by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in the House of Representatives today. Mr Webb said the average hours of work from June 27 to July 3 were 12 a day, and on the last day 14 in some cases. It was suggested that they should work a little longer. One hatch which was not quite filled was waiting for cargo for eight hours. Somebody was responsible for the cargo for which the men had to wait after working 14 hours a day. They knew that the boat was not sailing for Home, but for another New Zealand port. Mr Webb said the boat was finished after 12 o’clock, following a week’s strenuous work. He intended to have an investigation made and evidence taken on the published case. The commission had assured him that if the boat were sailing direct for Home the men would have remained at work until the boat was loaded.