WHARF LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 5

WHARF LABOUR.

CONTRACT SYSTEM. INNOVATION AT PATEA. MEOf RECEIVE MORE FAT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAWERA, this day. In operation two months and found to be a complete success, a contract system of employing wharf labour has been introduced at the port of Patea, which is the first port in New Zealand to experience conditions under which ships are being loaded in half Fhe usual time and the workers are being I paid ordinary union rates, plus bonuses varying according to the tons per hour loaded.

"In fact it is payment by results, and there is evidence from inquiries received that its operation is being watched with interest by other shipowners," stated the chairman of directors of the South Taranaki Shipping Company, Mr. F. Parsons, when the success of the new scheme was being discussed with a reporter at PfttCfta "Like all other ports," he added, "we have had our problems with regard to the employment of waterside labour, but to-day we have the means whereby our ships are loaded in half the usual time, and the men benefit from their speed and capacity for work on the co-operative basis by earning more money. ' From our own point view, and we understand from the point of view of the men, after two months trial the scheme has been found quite successful." . The system at Patea is operated by the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union and was instituted following a conference between representatives of the company and the' union, the latter represented by Messrs. J. Roberts (secretary) and J. Flood (president), the company being concerned with the loading of butter and cheese for Wellington and the unloading of back cargo of general merchandise.

As an example of the teamwork that has been developed, 14 men in one day handled 480 tons of cargo for three vessels, the cargo comprising 3082 crates of cheese, 6732 boxes of butter and 36 tons of general cargo. Under the old conditions 30 to 40 men would have been required to clear the three vessels of that amount of cargo in the one day.