“GOOD JOB DONE”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22289, 26 March 1947, Page 7

“GOOD JOB DONE”

N.Z. WATERSIDERS MORE CARGO HANDLED REPLY TO CRITICISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 26. Many critics of the watersiders appeared from time to time, but it had not been found that they were able to support their charges, said the national secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr. T. Hill, commenting on the opinions expressed by Captain H. S. Allan, master of the Palana, before the ship left Auckland for Britain.

Referring to Captain Allan’s assertion that it was about time the watersiders took a more realistic view, Mr. Hill said this could be done by all the critics of the watersiders and, indeed, by anyone who became interested in the subject by the simple procedure of referring to the report of the Waterfront Control Commission in August, 1946. The report showed that under commission control of the industry there had been a 38 per cent increase in the handling of general cargo. Other substantial increases were apparent in the handling of produce, such as butter and mutton.

“These facts expose the shallow criticism for what it is worth,” said Mr. Hill. “The results show that a much better job is being done on the waterfront than when employers had private control. They know that the waterside workers are doing a good job in the industry.”