WATERSIDERS’ WAGES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28446, 28 November 1957, Page 9

WATERSIDERS’ WAGES

Tribunal Asked For Increase

(New Zealand Press Association! WELLINGTON, November 26.

A wage increase of 9d an hour was sought by New Zealand waterside workers before the Waterfront Industry Tribunal today. Accusing the port employers of “a niggardly one-sided policy” the watersiders’ advocate (Mr J. E. Napier) said the employers’ association was the only group which had failed to appreciate the increased work on the waterfront. Asking the tribunal for an increase in the basic rate from 5s 3d an hour to 6s, Mr Napier said that shipping companies had gained greatly from the increased work of watersiders. Also sought was a four-hour daily attendance money minimum in place of the present three-hour payment, Mr Napier said this was needed because of today’s increased travelling costs from homes to work. Mr Napier said that the present guarantee of £8 a week was not sufficient to live on, and he asked that is be raised to £lO 2s 6d. The faster turnround of ships had been estimated in 1955 as s'aving a shipping company £47,500 for every voyage of just one ship, Mr Napier said. The wage increase of 3d an hour in 1955 cost the industry only £57,000, he said. Although the average wage of New Zealand watersiders was £2O Is 3d, this was gained by an average of 12 hours of overtime and a bonus on effort, he said. This wage, less than the previous year, was received by some workers in other industries for a normal working week. A basic wage for a watersider was only £8 18s 2d without bonus and overtime, both of which were uncertain sources of pay. Mr Napier said that although the shipping industry did not make its financial statements public, the recent freight increase had been estimated as worth £4.500,000. The tax rebate in the United Kingdom gave £10,000,000 to the P. and O. Line which, he said, was connected with New Zealand’s overseas and coastal shipping companies. The tribunal comprises Judge Archer. Mr Thomas Bloodworth, and Mr K. E. Luke.