HARBOR WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10511, 15 February 1928, Page 5

HARBOR WORKS.

BOARD’S NEW POLICY

DISMISSAL OF FIFTY MEN

EXPECTED

The unemployment list in Gisborne will bo added to considerably when about fifty men will lose their present employment under the Harbor Board’s latest policy, though a little while will be taken to re-arrange the staffing in view of the limitation of operations. At present there are several men at Whareongaonga who are supplying stone to the Harbor Board at a fixed rate, the contract being liable to interruption at any time. The decision on the part ot the Board on Monday will occasion the cancelling of this work for n« more stone Will be required for the breakwater extension in the meantime and gravel for the construction is available from other sources. The diving gangs and attendant workers will either be found other work or discharged. .Likewise the block yard will be thrown out ol work, and the staff reduced to skeleton proportions. The scows Zingnra and Kgahiiu will be without an occupation, lor an buyiher these vessels the hoard anticipated using them for the carnage ot stone for the breakwaters An enormous amount of p ant, obtained toi handling heavy blocks of stone, and the expensive equipment oi blockyard itself will be thrown idle, hs will also the twin pile-driving on - fit now working on the training w., • The proper care of all this plant, with a view to its ultimate re-employment br disposal, will occupy'several men, probably, for every detail of the innchinery will have to be bept el * ■and free of rust, no small task when the plant has once been put into -work; and the large .wooden striicjbures erected at the blockyard its 1 , including the goliath crane, will need the utmost car© if they, are to retail anv degree of strength and efficiency. The engineer, Mr R. Campbell, estimated the disposal value of a poition of-this plant at £20,00P, and it asked to value the entire range, of Equipment now' to. he rendered idle, blight put the figure at nearly doutoe that amount. ' .. . ' ,