GREYMOUTH WHARF

Grey River Argus, 23 January 1943, Page 4

GREYMOUTH WHARF

UNDER CONTRACT SYSTEM Control Commission TO TAKE OVER TO-DAY.

The Grevmouth wharf will be placed under the control of the Waterfront Control Commission as from to-day, and the contract system of payment, which for some little time has applied to the loading of timber, will now be extended to the loading and discharging of all classes ot car°-o. The change will bring Greymouth into line with the mam and intermediate ports of the D ominion, which, with the exception of Westport and Oamaru, are under the control of the Commission. The change-over to the new system was announced last evening by Mr Jas Roberts, of the Waterfront Control Commission, who with Mr A. E. Bockett, the secretary, is vis.tin°- Greymouth to deal with the necessary arrangements. He said that the Commissioners had appointed two members of the Greymouth Waterside Workers Union to take charge of the loading and dischaigin" of cargo. The secretary of the Union (Mr E. Hillman) had. lor a considerable time, engaged all waterfront labour, and would continue to perform this service. Mr Roberts said tnat the contract system had proved fin unqualified success in other ports, particularly where the Commission had assumed complete control of the engagement, supervision and dismissal or labour when jobs were completed. The present system of co-operative contracting on the wharves in New Zealand had been introduced by the Commission about two years ago, and had now been extended to all of the main ports The x . workers concerned were accepting the responsibility for the efficient performance of their work for the people ot New Zealand. The contract system was a paymen t-by-results system, in lieu of the unsatisfactory wage system which had hitherto existeci. and it was tome mutual benefit. ot the workers and ship-owners. I lte Commission determined the rate on a unit (or tonnage) basis, and the men'obtained the benefits of increased efforts in a shorter working time. This resulted in a greater amount of work being performed, and a quicker turn-round of ships. ims was particularly important :to-day, because of the shortage of man- , power and shipping tonnage. Watersiders throughout New Zealand had expressed satisfaction with the system.

When questioned concerning a central pay office, My Roberts said that the Greymouth Harbour Board had been requested to provide a suitable building, for which a rental would be paid, but it had refused to do so Accommodation for such a pay office rind been provided bv the harbour boards in all the other major and secondary ports wnere the Commission operated. The Commission would not be prevented from establishing the necessary service, and it intended to erect a building of its own Mr Roberts added that the U.me had arrived when a netter waiting room for the Grevmouth watersiders should be provided. The present room was no credit to the port. Rebuilding or overhaul was long overdue. The back part was in an insanitary condition. The provision made in other districts was miles ahead. There are 152 members in the Greymouth Union, apart from those serving overseas. Mr Bockett, when asked whether Westport was to be placed under the control of the Commission, said that this was not being done during the present visit.