The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1939. WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 8

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1939. WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Cargo-handling at New Zealand ports has been so unsatisfactoiy hitherto that any scheme conveying the, promise of an improvemen should be welcomed by shipowners, shippers, waterside labout an the public generally. All have had to suffer from the costly delays which have given our ports a bad reputation. Al stand to benefit bv the smoother and quicker handling of inward and outward cat goes which it is hoped will be effected by the new waterside transport control boards to be constituted as the result of the agreement i eache at last week’s conference. Whether this expectation wil be'realized remains to be seen. That will depend entirely on whether the new system will engender a new spirit of harmony and co-operation. Whatever were the faults alleged by either side of the argument against the other, it will be in the best tradition of sportsmanship to clean the slate and start afresh. -.-.nt If the control boards are to be successful in ridding watertiont labour of its present evils and inefficiency, all concerned wil have to use their common sense. Much of the trouble experience between employers and employees arises from the litigious atmospheie created by disputes over the operation and interpretation of awards. Real or fancied grievances in this connexion lead to frictions, imitations, and stoppages. Discipline is und e rlnined ’ and ?^'" g ® hole allowed to drift till, as has been the case on the waterfront, the whole thing becomes a farce. How discipline can be restored is a question At the opening of last week’s conference it was remarked that the unions should be prepared to discipline those of their members whose work and conduct were unsatisfactory. But it requires considerable backbone on the part of union executives and officials to discipline those whose votes have put them in office, as those with expeiience of union politics can testify. It is hoped, however, that the tiansport control boards will be able to supply the necessary backing to the union executives to enable them to clean up their own ranks, and deal drastically with those undesirable elements whose activities hitherto have been responsible for a large part.of the trouble, ilia some action of the kind is necessary is frankly admitted by the more responsible groups among the waterfront unions at the various ports. That is one of the problems the local and national transport boards have to consider. A more simple and direct method would have been the licensing system in operation in Australia. Jo tins there were strong objections. If, however, the alternative of boat control is a failure, we may be driven to the other. Difficulties may arise at the outset over the appointments of chairmen. Both tie local and national boards have an equal number of representatives tor employers and employees, and in any particular instance where tneie is disagreement as to the chairmanship the. Minister of Labour will be called upon to make the appointment himself. 1 his procedure may prevent a stalemate, but it would give far less satisfaction than a unanimous decision by the parties themselves. Such a decision would be evidence of a sincere desire to make the new system work. The point to be kept steadily in view is that the system, adopted is a means to an end, namely, the reduction of the excessive costs in the discharge and loading of ships. No section of the community, not even the watersiders, is exempt from the effect of these. Quick dispatch is the remedy, and that means an acceleration of effort and the avoidance of stoppages. How these questions arc to be dealt with is to be the function of the local control boards, whose reports on causes and effects are to be passed on to the national control board for any action it may consider desirable to facilitate the smooth and efficient working of the ports. On paper, the scheme looks promising. It has received the approval of the parties immediately concerned, and Ministerial blessings. The public will now look forward with hope that it will produce the results expected.