The Waterfront Transport Control Board

Considerable public dissatisfaction was aroused, and pressure was brought to bear on the Government to set up a royal commission to investigate the waterfront situation. The Government countered by calling a conference in March 1939. This conference resulted in the decision to establish a Waterfront Transport Control Board at each of the four main ports, with representatives from each side. Similar boards were to be set up in some of the smaller ports. Activities were to be co-ordinated by a national board. This system never became effective. In the same month trouble flared up again on the Wellington waterfront. Seven hundred and eighty men were involved in a work stoppage following dismissals for go-slow tactics, and the resulting deadlock lasted two and a half days. The Government took a strong line, and as a result work continued fairly smoothly for a time.