BUSY WHARVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 152, 29 June 1944, Page 2

BUSY WHARVES

SOME SLIGHT DELAYS

ALL WATERSIDERS ENGAGED

Auckland wharves are exceptionally busy at the present time, and every available waterside worker fc employed. This applies to non-union as well as union labour. Thft Auckland waterfront controller, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, said to-day that nearly 2000 men had been engaged this morning, as there was unusual port activity. As a consequence, there had been some slight delay in the discharge of certain ships, but he was of the opinion that in the course of a few days "things would find their own level again." Mr. Cuthbert did not consider the position had reached a stage where it was necessary to apply to the National Service Department to direct additional men to the wharves. "We are not in a big enough jam for that," he added. The new system of giving preference of employment on the wharves to regular non-unionists over sparetime workers had been discontinued, Mr. Cuthbert said. It was found that some men wanted to choose their jobs and kept away from short-time engagements, although they were equally as urgent as some of the bigger jobs entailing overtime. The new system would be abandoned until he received definite assurances from the regular "seagulls" that they would be available for the normal wocking hours and would not pick and choose their work. The president of the Watersade Workers Union, Mr. H. Barnes, said there had been an acute shortage of labour for the last day or two. All available union men were at work, and he presumed all other available labour as well. "Ships have been 'scratching' for labour to-day," he said. With the exception of a few spells of a»- week or two's duration, waterside workers had a strenuous time for three years and abnormal hours had had to be worked to turn the ships around. It was a great strain on physique and nerves, and everybody would be delighted to get back to normal times.