RATE OF WORK ON WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 5

RATE OF WORK ON WATERFRONT

Harbour Board Chairman’s Attack THREAT OF CHANGE IN SYSTEM By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 19. Greater speed in handling cargo on the Auckland waterfront was called for to-day by Mr. G. C. G. Macindoe, chairman of the Harbour Board, under the.threat that Auckland and other boards may be compelled to scrap the existing system of engaging waterfront labour and appoint their own staffs for the work. “I am perfectly satisfied that our New Zealand main ports, including Auckland, are the worst manned in the world so far as waterside labour is concerned,” Mr. Macindoe said. "The workers loaf on their job. They arc the highest paid waterside" workers in the world and they do less for the money they are paid. That situation is not going to continue. It has reached a stage when port authorities, in protection of their reputations, must take definite stand and remove from the wharves these men who will not work and appoint their own staffs to con duet the loading and discharging of vessels using the ports. ‘•Auckland’s attitude in this matter, 1 feel sure, will be endorsed by the authorities of southern ports,” Mr. Macindoe added.