Accordingly, the Central Government on August 22, 1970 constituted a National Tribunal at Calcutta and referred to it under section 7 B and section 10( 1A) of the the following issue for adjudication, namely, "Whether recommendations of the Central Wage Board for the Port and Dock workers as accepted by the Central Government in their resolution No. WB 21(7)/69 dated the 26th March, 1970 are applicable to the bargemen in the matter of wages and allowances? If not to what other relief with regard to wages and allowances are they entitled? ' ' In the statement of claims filed by the trade union representing bargemen it was contended that barges, lighters and boats performed the combined functions of transit sheds, warehouses, jetties, quays, wharfs on a miniature scale and enabled loading and unloading of cargoes into and from ships, and that they carried almost all the cargoes from mills, factories and establishments located at the back of the river as it was found to be advantageous and economical to use barges, lighters and boats for loading and unloading of cargoes into and from ships because of all round lower costs.