WATERFRONT CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 8

WATERFRONT CONDITIONS

The correspondence which has been passing between the Chambers of Commerce and the Prime Minister on the subject of waterfront conditions does not seem likely to lead to any practical benefits. Mr. Savage states that the Government is quite willing at all times to co-operate with the ship-owners and others concerned to ensure that industry is carried on without interruption under reasonable conditions, but the interruptions continue. The latest hold-up, affecting the handling of a large shipment of a perishable cargo—chilled beef—for the steamer Port Campbell, is a particularly bad case from the point of view of the public interest. The development of the trade in chilled beef has been one of the most promising advances in recent times in the meat export .trade of the Dominion; and at this stage it might easily be seriously prejudiced by delays in course of handling and shipment. The hold-up on Tuesday night was especially unfortunate, because all waterside cargo work was being suspended on the following day on account of the annual picnic of the waterside workers. No consideration appears to have been given to this circumstance by the waterside workers who are stated to have refused to meet the needs of the occasion, as provided by the award conditions under which they work.

The Chambers of Commerce are asking for a Royal Commission to investigate and report on the whole question of waterfront. labour conditions. The gravity of the situation that has developed in connection with the losses and inconvenience arising out of waterfront delays certainly demand remedial measures, and possibly the findings of an impartial and competent commission of inquiry might be a useful means of placing the facts of the position authoritatively, on record. But the findings would have to be followed by definite action, and the law upheld and enforced, if any real good is to result. What has to be brought home to the public is that they are paying the cost of the waterfront delays. Already shipping freights have had to be raised to meet the increased costs of handling cargoes in New Zealand ports, and further increases are in prospect. Business houses and their customers also are not only inconvenienced, but their costs, too, are increased by the slow handling of their goods, and again the public have to pay the added charges. These facts have been pointed out time and again, but without any apparent effect. Even the appeals of Ministers of the Crown who have shown anxiety over the situation appear to have little or no influence with those who shape the policy of waterside labour. No responsible person wants to see anything but fair and equitable conditions for workers on the waterfront, and every possible endeavour has been made to provide these. In the main ports of the Dominion especially, the conditions have never been more favourable to the workers.' Yet hold-ups and delays persist with a frequency and at a cost seriously prejudicial to the whole community.