LOADING OF SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 2

LOADING OF SHIPS

Waterside Workers’ New Organisation CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME i The discharging and loading of the Government steamer Maui Pomare at Lyttelton and Wellington was recently carried out by watersiders working on a co-operative basis, according to a statement in “The Standard.” The work was done by members of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, w.hich has formed an organisation known as the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Cooperative Stevedoring Association, with the intention, of undertaking work on vessels at any port, or all ports, in New Zealand and competing generally, with other contracting stevedores for this class of work. “For the past 20 years,” states “The Standard,” “the question of co-operative stevedoring has been discussed by the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation and its branches, but, with the exception of performing the work on one or two vessels many years ago, no contracts have been obtained by the waterside workers by which they could undertake the loading and discharging of vessels by direct contract.

“Recent!}' many complaints have been made about the efficiency of the waterside workers, aud on several occasions an offer has been made by the representatives of tho New Zealand Waterside "Workers’ Union that they would undertake the work of handling cargo to and from ships on a co-operative contract basis. The employers up to the present time have refused, but the union was able to obtain a contract for working the Government steamer Maui Pomare. “This vessel arrived at Lyttelton on Monday, March 14, and all the arrangements for discharging and loading cargo were made by the representatives of the New Zealand "Waterside Workers’ Cooperative Stevedoring Association at Lyttelton. The discharging and loading of the vessel was carried on in a most expeditious manner under the able supervision of Mr. J. Sargentina, who was appointed foreman, and, although the vessel arrived at Lyttelton some hours late, there was an excellent dispatch, and she arrived in Wellington in time for the discharge of the cargo to be completed on. the evening of Wednesday, March 16, “The arrangements for discharging the vessel at Wellington were made by the head office of the Waterside Workers’ Union, together with the Wellington officers, and, although the discharge at the port of Wellington was somewhat difficult, it was carried out in a very efficient manner under the supervision of Mr. Ted Leniston, who was appointed foreman.

“This is a new departure as far as New Zealand or, it is believed, any part of the world is concerned, as the waterside workers are paid by the hour and their own association is responsible for the insurance cover of the men, supervision and the payment of wages, aud also for the supply of gear except that provided by the ship. “ ‘An important point in connection with this method of loading and discharging vessels,’ said Mr. James Roberts, secretary of the N.Z.W.W.U., ‘is the fact that every man engaged on the job is interested and anxious that the work should be performed as expeditiously and carefully as possible. This was particularly noticeable at the port of Lyttelton, where excellent co-operation was shown by every worker engaged, including the m<m employed by the New Zealand Railways Department, and it shows that if this system were adopted and proper organisation and supervision ensured, better results would be obtained for the ship’ owners and the industry generally,’ ” the siatement concludes. I.