Wharf Work On Shift Basis Urged

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 10

Wharf Work On Shift Basis Urged

(NZ. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, September 17. The Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) said on Saturday that he looked forward to the time when wharves would be worked on a shift basis. The delays in New Zealand ports were becoming expensive and the change to shift working was desirable.

Mr Shand was talking at the opening of the new £63,550 Waterfront Industry Commission building on the new island harbour at Bluff.

The eight-hour shifts would enable as much work to be done as was done at present during 10 hours. “You should be able to draw more money in eight hours than in 10,” said the Minister. •This comment drew laughter from about 400 watersiders and representatives of business firms, unions and local bodies. The Minister said that Bluff was a modern port and was getting modern facilities. Whether the men who used the building would enjoy it depended on how they used it.

“I’m sure you will use it properly,” said Mr Shand. “Where we have these buildings they have been well looked after.”

Mr Shand spoke, of the industrial trouble on the water, front. He supposed that of all industries the waterfront was the one with the most labour troubles. “It takes two to make a fight,” he said. ‘‘Where the employee and the employers cannot produce the maximum it is time to look at them, selves.”

The attitude of employer to employee had a. lot to do with industrial strife, he said. “There are a lot of shorttempered blighters like myself.” All over New Zealand £500,000 was being spent to provide facilities on wharves. The money would be well spent provided it was used as was intended.