WATERSIDERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 15

WATERSIDERS

TO TBI BDITOB Of TUB PBE33. Sir,—-A letter appears in this morning's issue of "The Press," written by N. Purcell Fitzgerald, Auckland. Inker alia, Mr Fitzgerald criticises the action of the Auckland watersiders in [refusing to work cargo in the rain. I The disinclination of the Auckland waterside workers in particular to work either in rain or sunshine is known far and wide. A short time ago, while I was travelling overseas, the captain of the ship on which I was la passenger, told me that of all the ports he visits, the go-slow policy of the (Auckland watersiders was notoriously the worst. Auckland, he said, has far I more modern wharf machinery to handle cargo expeditiously than Sydney has; yet in Auckland 11 tons an hour is the average loading ol cargo. as against 22 tons an hour in Sydney Some time ago an overseas visitor connected with shipping, and with a ful' knowledge of loading cargo—having himself at one time worked in the London docks—stood on the deck of an ocean liner in Auckland and watched the loading of butter boxes. He was amazed to see that it took two men to handle one box. and in his mind contrasted the handling of cargo at Auckland with that at overseas ports Later, when standing on the wharf, he spoke to a watersider and asked why it was necessary for two men to handle one box. The reply he was given was: "Because there is not room for four men on it!" There you have the attitude of the waterside workers in a nutshell. Truly they are a law unto themselves. Doubtless there may be some good, honest workers among the watersiders who are afraid to give of their best for fear of being expelled from a union which they have been reluctantly compelled to join.—Yours etc.. FACTS NOT FICTION. 1 July 28. 1938.