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The year 1951 is marked in our nation's history by two very different events.

The ANZUS Treaty was signed that year in San Francisco.

In Auckland, 14 marchers were admitted to hospital with serious injuries after police set about them with batons.

ANZUS grew out of World War II and strangely enough so did "Bloody Friday".

The war had shown that Britain's defence of the Pacific vas very limited so we turned to the United States.

The war had meant shortages, but the peace had brought demand for our produce and prosperity — for some.

ANZUS ended for us with our nuclear-free policy, but it did last for more than 30 years and saw New Zealand troops in Korea and Vietnam On balance, public feelings about our involvement were, at best, mixed.

The 1951 Waterfront Dispute lasted 151 days, and saw New Zealand troops handling cargo on the wharves. Public feelings, on balance, were rather against the wharfies, especially amongst Manawatu and Horowhenua farmers, some of whom were starting to pay off debts incurred by restricted war-time sales.

As well as security, the ANZUS Treaty was seen as a way into the giant US marketplace for our produce. Firstly, though, it had to be Ioaded at our ports. Often by hand, this was hard, sometimes dangerous work.

While a 15per cent wage rise had been granted to some workers, the wharfies claimed their recent 9 per cent rise was "history": they wanted the 15 per cent as well. This brought them into conflict with the shipping owners and the Government led by Prime Minister Sidney Holland. A 6 per cent "top-up" was offered.

The wharfies response? Overtime bans, which led to lockouts, union de registration, protest marches and even prison for some.

Emergency Regulations were announced (under the Public Safety Conservation Act), and 'scabs' were hired. The whole mess eventually led to a landslide victory for the Holland Government after a snap election. History shows that eventually more 20,000 unionists were involved and more than 1-million work hours were lost.

The Watersiders' leader, Jock Barnes, never worked the wharves again.

ANZUS never did give full, open access to United States markets, but a common bond has lasted despite the nuclear-free Issue. And although American cars are not so common on our roads today (when did you last seen Chevrolet or Buick?), our TV and video programs are dominated by the United States. Our wine and kiwifruit sell well there too.

As for the waterfront. our news bulletins are once again featuring a dispute, and once again the core matter is worker incomes.

"Each time history repeats Itself, the price goes up". (author unknown)

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January 20, 2012

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