WATERFRONT DELAYS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 212, 23 June 1950, Page 3

WATERFRONT DELAYS

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

COMMITTEE REPORTS TO MINISTER

'(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 22. The president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr H. Barnes) and its secretary (Mr T. Hill) have agreed to meet representatives of the shipowners “at an early convenient date" to discuss on national lines the recommendations of, the facMinding committee set up to try to find a solution to delays on the Auckland waterfront. They will discuss those recommendations affecting conditions of employment. If agreement cannot be reached these matters will be referred to the Waterfront Industry Authority.

This was announced to-day by the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sulivan) .in releasing the report of the special committee appointed by him to conways of improving the turnround of shipping at Auckland in an endeayqur ,to avoid the proposed 7J per cent, surcharge on overseas inXvafoC cargoes. ;;,“It; that representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Union, in keeping ' with the undertaking given by Mfiiem, did not attend the meetings of the committee, as an improvement in :.;the ‘ turn-round of shipping at Auckland so much depends on their co-operation and good Will,” said the Minister.

“The committee finde, that the slow turn - round- at Auckland is mainly caused by:“(T) The poor work performed by many waterside workers at Auckland and a grave lack of responsibility by. them—a lack of co-operation and good will by the workers. “(2) Lack of discipline, and the consequent loss of control by employers, and also the need for a better relationship and greater co-operation between employer and employee. “(3) Shortage of wharf berthage and mechanical appliances. “(4) Shortage of railway -rolling stock. “(5) Congestion'through all import licences expiring on one fixed date. “(6) The multiplicity of marks. Committee’s Recommendations “The committee has made a number of recommendations which it considers will improve the turn round. It. suggests that the main order of. the Waterfront Industry Commission made in June 1940, ehoud be completely reviewed by the newly constituted Waterfront Industry Authority.” The Minister added that recommendations were made about increased sling loads when mechanical equipment is employed, the working of meal hours in big hatches, the working of extended hours in the cleaning and preparation of holds, and the observance of hours of work and reasonable rest periods, etc; The committee did not consider that the introduction of a two-shift system of work on the waterfront was practicable at present. Mr Sullivan said that all matters affecting conditions of employment on the waterfront were being referred to the New Zealand Port Employers’ Association bo that it might first discuss 1 them with the New Zealand Waterj side Workers’ Union and, if agreement [could not be reached, bring them before the Waterfront Industry Author-, ity. The recommendations on wharf berthage and increased mechanical appliances were being referred to the Auckland Harbour Board, as was a recommendation by the committee that immediate action should be taken in providing additional accommodation and amenities for all men working on the waterfront. The attention of the Minister of Railways was being drawn to the recommendations on the shortage of railway rolling stock. Mr Sullivan recalled that .the Cabinet had recenty approved the purchase from overseas of large quantities of all types of rail-way-trucks, and everything possible was .hqipg, ,dcjne, he said, to expedite delivery. ‘ ... The question of staggering the expiry date of import licences had been • referred to the Minister of Customs. The, New, Zealand Port Employers Association was being requested to arrange with consignors for a reduction in the number of separate marks of standard lines. , .. committee had recorded its appreciation of" the work done by the Cargo Control Committee, and recommended that the committee should continue to function under the emergency regulations. Permanency was not contemplated. , The committee considered that tne desirable situation of good will and honesti intention between employers and workers could only he brought about by the restoring of a direct relationship between employer and worker. This matter, he said, would receive the Government’s considera“The Government trusts that with the full co-operation of all the interested parties we may see a marked improvement.in the turn round of shipping at Auckland which will enable representations to he made to overseas shipowners to cancel the pro posed 7h per cent, surcharge, concluded the Minister.