INEFFICIENCY ON THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 129, 24 February 1939, Page 8

INEFFICIENCY ON THE WATERFRONT

It is earnestly to be hoped-that speedy, positive results will come of the national conference on waterside work to be called Minister of Labour. So far neither advice nor appeals fiom a Government which has wooed the allegiance of the workers has done anything to remedy an irksome, uneconomic state of affairs. Not only are the business community and the public bearing a heavy burden imposed by slow, costly handling of cargo, but also New Zealand is achieving an unenviable reputation overseas —one which is discouraging to both shippers and traders. Only this week fresh attention was drawn to the position by the Australian representative of.a large foreign shipping company who predicted that an increase in freights on New Zealand cargoes would become necessary.

Of all ports visited by the fleets of the North German Lloyd Company (he said), those of New Zealand proved most expensive, because of the high costs, principally in loading and discharging. . . Tiie efficiency of handling cargo here was lower than anywhere else. Shipping companies had hoped the position would be improved, but actually it was growing worse.

The indictment is all the more pointed because the facilities for handling cargo in the main ports are of the best. In an interview in Auckland Mr. Webb spoke of the inefficiency that prevails,” but went on to say that many officials of waterside organizations’ had pointed out that much of the cost was traceable to methods of stevedoring both abroad and in New Zealand. Surely, however, this does not dispose of the charge of inefficiency, for if similar methods are employed abroad the handicap to cargo handlers in overseas ports presumably is the same. Whatever may be said about stevedoring and other shortcomings, the fact remains—for it has been amply proved—that waterside work in this country has deteriorated far below a reasonable standard of model n requit ements. And this at a time when the wages of the workers are higher and the conditions of employment more attractive than evei before. The Minister has now given an assurance that the Government is wholly opposed to the tactics which have brought the affairs of waterside labour into their present disrepute It will remain to be seen whether a cure can lie found and applied by the means chosen. If this means fails, an independent commission of inquiry is the only alternative, aud the Government must be piepaied to take him, impartial action on whatever lines are found to be necessary.