WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 8

WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

IMPROVEMENT IN LAST

' YEAR

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, August 21. “There is going to be only one Government —and it is this Government, declared the Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) in the House to-day, when speaking of the need for an improvement in waterfront work in some ports. “Whether it is an employer or a worker, those standing in the way of a speedier turn-round of boats must get out of it. The job must go on. We will find difficulties, but if we approach them in a spirit of goodwill they will be overcome.” As soon as Mr Webb mentioned waterside workers, Mr W. J. Poison ((Deposition, Stratford) remarked: “Take off your hat.” “I will take off my hat to 95 per cent, of them,’? replied Mr Webb. Mr Poison: Only 95 per cent.? Mr Webb; I think 5 per cent, should not be there. Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga): We take off our hats too, to the 95.per cent. Why don’t you deal with the other 5 per cent.? Work on the waterfront generally in the last 12 months was better than in the last few years, Mr Webb continued. Work at Wellington was better, but not yet up to standard, there being room for greater co-operation. .Wanganui and Patea men had praised the work done there, while business people in the south were eulogistic of the work at Bluff, Oamaru, Timaru and Lyttelton. It was not so good at Auckland, and things would have to improve there.

Opposition members, however, did not improve the situation by exaggerating every little fpult, and in not giving credit where credit was due. Some men worked up to 80 hours a week, very often in rain, and through the night to turn ships round, and men in freezing works worked 100 hours a week to clear yards of stock. The country only heard the sad story when there was a day’s stoppage here and there. He was pleased with the great bulk, of what was being done. While the system operating was not perfect, it was the germ of the co-operative system, under which the responsibility for the whole work must rest upon the men. Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn): Why not share the bonus with the - seagulls.’’

“I think many of the ‘seagulls’ should be in the union, and unless some of the unioi s play the game, they will be in, and the work thrown open,” Mr Webb replied. In the past 3000 members were available to do 1000 jobs. Nothing like thit was wanted again. All that was needed was sensible co-operation among the commission, the men, and the Government, and he was certain that a system wjiereby ships would be turned round regularly, and the men well compensated for their work, would be evolved, specially because of the war. The privilege the men now enjoyed of a contract basis, and the right to close out members and'to limit union membership to the number required to do the job, carried with it the responsibility to get on with the job. If there was too much work, the “seagulls” should be admitted, and have a share of the profits and enjoy the privileges.