FASTER WORK AT EIGHT PORTS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 6

FASTER WORK AT EIGHT PORTS

UNION COMPANY’S EXPERIENCE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. August 27. The rate of cargo work on Union Steam Ship Company vessels had improved noticeably at at least seven ports besides Auckland, compared with the work before the Waterfront strike, said Mr A. K. Eelford, the company’s industrial superintendent, to-day. commenting on a statement made in Wellington yesterday by the general manager in New Zealand for the New Zealand Shipping Company (Mr F. W. Spite). The seven other ports, he said, were Bluff, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton, Plcton, and Gisborne. It had to be remembered, he added, that at some secondary ports work before the Strike could not be regarded as bad. In his Opinion the abolition of spelling and the increase in the size of sling loads mainly accounted for the better results obtained. The rate of work at Auckland was well above that previously experienced. The difference was mote noticeable because the previous rate of work at Auckland was so poor. Unfortunately, the turn-round at some ports was not in line with the improved rate of work, largely because of congestion of wharves and shortage of labour. It was hoped that these factors would be corrected soon. He said he appreciated that overseas Ships might not have worked at all the ports that had been named and at which his company’s vessels were trading. There were circumstances In the loading Of overseas ships that did not apply to Union Company ships carrying general cargoes.