Labour Unrest Continues
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
In Rarotonga
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, March 30.
LABOUR unrest in Rarotonga con tinues.
A tribunal to investigate local claims for higher wages was to have been held in Rarotonga at the beginning of April, and a Judge of the Industrial Court of NZ was to have arrived by ’plane to preside over the meeting, which would include the Resident Commissioner and local Judge, the manager of the Union SS Co., a representative of the prin cipal trading firms and the delegates of the labourers concerned. But this in vestigation has now been postponed un til May.
Postponement is due to a “note” from the Islands Association —a self elected group in NZ that have under taken to direct the labour policy of the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Asso ciation presented to the New Zealand Government their own plan for the tri bunal, insisting that a number of then own members be included. The NZ Government replied that it did not recog nise this organisation and that Rarotongan affairs, being of local con cern, would be dealt with locally.
In the meantime, what might be termed “gangster” methods, are being employed by some of the local delegates of the tribunal. They make personal calls on workmen, suggesting that they pay 2/6 and sign up as members of a labour organisation. Cautious persons who show reluctance to pay up and toe the line are warned that should they refuse to do so, steps will be taken to see that they are removed from their present employment.
Such methods are likely to do the cause more harm than good.
With the hurricane season just ending and the Islands very short of staple sup plies, there is still some anxiety as to whether the wharf labourers will work the first steamer of the season, which is <iue in a few weeks.
The wharf workers had agreed to con tinue to work, although under protest, at the present rates until the result of the coming tribunal is made known.
Rarotonga, April 29.
rERE is a feeling of relief here, especially among the fruit-growers, as the season’s first shipment of 6,000 cases of oranges has been lightered out to the “Maui Pomare.” It has been an anxious month.
The wharf workers having been per suaded with no little difficulty to stay put until after the forthcoming tribunal, our labour leaders produced a further crop of headaches by arousing strife among the orange pickers.
Mr. J. A. Gilmour, of the NZ Indus trial Court, will arrive in Rarotonga by plane on May 24 to conduct the tribunal investigating local wage rates. It is also announced that Mr. A. G. Osborne, MP, accompanied by Mr. C. G. R. McKay, Sec retary of Island Territories, will arrive in Rarotonga by plane on May 11 for a short visit on official business.