Is Aggressive
p. 28 · Read in the full issue
Waterside Spirit
Modern Ideas In Cook Islands
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, Oct. 22.
CONFIRMATION was received on October 21 of the affiliation of the Cook Islands Workers’ Union with the NZ Federation of Labour.
A tense situation has existed here dur ing the past two weeks in connection with the intended visit of the auxiliary schooner “Tagua.” The “Tagua” is under charter to the Public Works Department, and was due at Rarotonga with & cargo of public works materials.
When it became known that the De partment had considered unloading the vessel with its own labour, the Cl Pro gress Association rose in protest, and let it be known that if necessary they would be prepared to blockade the wharf and do battle to defend what they re garded as their right to handle all incom ing cargo.
All PWD employees are members of the new Cl Workers’ Union.
To avoid any friction, the visit of the “Tagua” was cancelled, and the vessel was sent to Apia, Western Samoa, to unload.
Mr. Tautu Anerau. local secretary of the CIPA, is at present in Auckland—for the purpose, it is reported, of studying Auckland waterfront methods. (EDITORIAL NOTE; The Cook Islands people can look forward to interesting events, if Auckland waterside methods are to be introduced to their isles. The Auckland waterside workers are notorious throughout the Pacific for their lazi ness, slowness and general non-coopera tiveness. Like the Sydney dockers, they are more or less directed by Communists, and imagine that their mission in life is to cripple the shipping industry.)