HARBOUR EMPLOYEES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 22

HARBOUR EMPLOYEES

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —The situation developing at Lyttelton is interesting. Very soon after the Labour Government got into power Mr S. W. Lane became very energetic in getting his union into closer cooperation, It is interesting to know, too, that Government members of the board have attended meetings at Lyttelton; therefore Mr Lane would be quite in order in claiming that his methods would be along the lines of the Government policy—less work, fewer hours, and more money. It is amusing that Mr Howard should put forward the plea that the Harbour Board employees are anxious to save time and money for the board in face of the fact that the union secretary makes it quite plain that they want to give less and get more. As a matter of fact, the board employees are exceedingly well treated and well paid. I quite agree with Mr Lane when he says they know the psychology of their members. They certainly do, because they created the psychology and carefully nursed it. However, there is a day of reckoning coming. Every disease brings its own cure. Just one thing* further. Mr Lane is quite right in recognising that the pub-

lie pay. That is why our costs are rising so rapidly. It is also the chief reason why the .city rates are speeding up so tremendously this present year.—Yours, etc., TIN TACKS. June 3, 1938.