“RAFFERTY RULES”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 3

“RAFFERTY RULES”

WATERSIDE WORK MR. JULL’S CRITICISM HIGH OVERTIME RATES IMPROVEMENT CLAIMED NEW CONTROL SYSTEM (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. What he called Rafferty rules on the waterfront were described by Mr. A. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawa), discussing the war emergency legislation In the House of Representatives yesterday, the member being highly critical of the costly rates of overtime which had been paid, these showing variations between different ports. It was suggested, he said, that shipping companies should be straightened up to secure proper unification of control over overseas transport. Referring to the rate of 10s 4d an

hour working on Saturday night and Sunday at Napier, Mr. Jull declared it was a shame that the Ministers should have imposed such an obligation on the British Government, which had to pay. The Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser: After all, the watersiders are more useful than brewers. (Laughter.)

Mr. Jull suggested that the Administration had not shown competence even for normal conditions. The secretary of the Seamen’s Union had declared at Dunedin that not even the Labour Government had ever made the workers do anything they did nol wish. The Prime Minister: Mr. Walsh denies saying it. Minister's Comparisons The Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, followed with a strong reply to the criticism of high wages on the Waterfront, stating that the average was not on a par with the wages of a skilled machinist or competent tradesman.

An overseas vessel was worked during the week-end in Wellington on a basis which gave the men £2 16s a day. Yet if the same boat had worked London under those conditions the watersiders would receive £5 11s. Mr. Jull ought to know that unless there was a surplus of men at many ports shipping could not be expeditiously handled. In ports like Bluff and Port Chalmers they were bound to have a surplus of watersiders available to work the boats when they came, otherwise they would not use these ports. The Government and unions were opposed to overtime unless it was essential. The shipping companies had been denounced and the critic had' whipped’ into the men as well. There was a certain amount of truth regarding both sides, continued* the Minister, and because of it the Government had grappled with the situation. It appointed a waterfront commission because it was not going to see the industry strangled. This commission, was doing wonderful work of benefit to the shipowners, the men and the country. Great improvements had been made. Tie was confident the commission would solve one of the most difficult problems this country had faced. There was now no red tape about the employers, no goslow by the workers. Nothing like that would be allowed to stand in the way. Co-operative Contract “We are introducing the system of co-operative contract,” said the Minister, “where the men will be paid for the' woi-k done and not get a bonus for loafing, as was the case under the old order, where they got four days pay for work which might have got a ship away in two. The new system will revolutionise work on the waterfront.” The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, who participated in the* Napier negotiations mentioned by Mr. Jull, stated that the watersiders agreed unconditionally to work the ship on Christmas Eve and Sunday. No rates of pay were demanded, and when the shipowners were informed of this decision they stated what they were prepared to pay. which was more than the men would have accepted. The shipowners had informed him that four days were saved, and he understood this involved £2000: