WATERSIDE LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 8

WATERSIDE LABOUR

PORTS “WORST MANNED IN WORLD” AUCKLAND CHAIRMAN'S THREAT BOARDS MAY APPOINT OWH STAFFS [Pee United Peeks Association.] AUCKLAND, April 19. Greater speed in the handling of cargo on the Auckland waterfront* was called for to-day by Mr 6. C. G. Macindoe, chairman of the Harbour Board, under a threat that the 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 iob. “ They are the highest paid waterside workers in the world,” he continued, ” and they do less for the money they are paid. That situation is not going to continue. It has reached a stage when the port authorities, in protection of their reputations, must take a definite stand and remove from the wharves those men who will not work, and appoint their own staffs to conduct the loading and discharging of vessel using the ports. ' “ Auckland’s attitude in this mat. ter I feel sure, will be endorsed by the authorities of the southern ports,” Mr Macindoe added. LOCAL COMMENT NOT TO BE DRAWN ONLY ONE SHIPPER HEARD “ They are the . biggest lot of loafers on God’s earth and the best paid,” said one man intimately, connected with shipping and stevedoring, when asked to comment on the position locally. There was not the slightest doubt that Mr Macindoe had hit the nail on the head, he continued. Last week some of the waterside workers here who had worked the whole week had received £l2 in wages, and many others had received as much as £9 and £lO. The majority of the people interviewed, including the chairman Of the Harbour Board, preferred not to make any comment on tlio situation.