Acute Labour Needs On Auckland Wharves

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1949, Page 7

Acute Labour Needs On Auckland Wharves

NEWS IN BRIEF . .

With port congestion mounting since work ceased on Friday at noon, wharf congestion has been mounting rapidly at Auckland, with ail berths filled and six overseas ships in the stream. Only about half the membership of 2000 men in the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union was expected to answer a labour call today, and many of the regular' non-unionists were also expected to be away on their holidays. The port will need between 600 and 700 extra men during the holiday period, and the Waterfront Industry Commission has appealed for additional men to help overtake the backlog of work. ,

Work will cease again on Friday for the New Year break, and will not be resumed until Wednesday.

Burns to the legs and anas were suffered by Mr G. Harford when a storm lantern used to inspect his damaged taxi after an accident near Pangatotara (Nelson) ignited escaped petrol. The body of the car was almost destroyed by the fire. Bank notes and a coat in the car were destroyed.

Four members of a Waikato family living at Wharepapa were admitted to the Waikato Hospital following a collision with another vehicle near Te Awahautu. They were Mr G. L. Hose, aged 51, a farmer, who suffered concussion and cuts; his wife, Mrs Hazel Hose, whose arm was broken; and their daughters, Miss Eleanor Hose, who had concussion and scalp wounds, and Miss Elizabeth Hose, who also had concussion, as well as a broken nose. * * v *

When her hair was caught in the pulley of a milking machine motor, Miss Katie Tai, aged 23, of Kawliia, suffered severe scalp injuries, necessitating her admission to the Waikato Hospital. * * « * Four of the original seven starters in the river marathon rowing race from Palmerston North down the Manawatu River to its mouth completed the course in the face of rough conditions and an incoming tide. The race is run In two legs, the first being completed at Shannon, where the crews rest overnight. Whining crew was a ‘'flattie” combination from Tokomaru—Messrs E., M., and J. Fedley—which covered the distance in 9hr 43min. The last stretch from the lower bridge at Whirokino was unprotected from the onshore wind, and it was in this straight that endurance and seaworthiness told. Two boats were forced to drop out within reach of the line by bad conditions. * * * *

An accident in the bush yesterday, three miles from the main road near Giles Creek. Westland, resulted in a youth named Gibson, aged 17. of Westport, being in a critical condition from a shot in the chest by a .2” rifle. It is believed that Gibson and two other youths were on a shooting expedition and that the rifle was gcciden'ally discharged when it was being inspect ed as they were fhelterm; from the rain under a thick clump o * bush Sergeant Davis and Dr D. H. Symes, of Westport, went to the scene of the accident early in the afternoon, but Gibson had not been brought out of the bush by 9 p.m. 'Blood transfusions were given and the victim is believed to be in a serious condition.

All four bodies of the men who lost their lives when their dinghy overturned on Lake Kotoaira, near National Park, have been recovered by search parties. The first two were found on Friday, the third yesterday, and the fourth, that of Steve Banks, of Tokaanu, was discovered at an early hour this morning.