CARGO HANDLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22846, 29 September 1937, Page 17

CARGO HANDLING

Sir, —It would be more to the point if the people who, in general terms, accuse Auckland waterside wo:rkers of "loafing," would display their identity and produce the evidence on which, they base the charge. If they are merely casual observers who, haying seen men during working hours sitting on their trucks,' have assumed that the men were loafing, then it would appear that they have something to learn about the loading . and discharging of ships. Take loading for exampie. There is a gang on the wharf and a gang in the ship's hold. The wharf gang may be employed bringing bales of wool from a loosely stacked consignment in the wharf-shed to the ship's side. In the ship's hold the bales hav£ to be rammed into position < in order to prevent the cargo .from shifting when at sea. The loading requires considerable manoeuvring. Sometimes there is more than sufficient space for one bale, but not enough for two.' Such occasions involve - breaking the straps which confine the bale so that it may expand and wedge itself in. It happens often that the wharf gang delivers bales faster than the ship's gang can get them stowed. It is not an un-. common thing to see a sling load suspended from the crane over the hatchway; it is an indication that the ship's gang is snowed up and has no i space in which to receive the sling load. When these delays occur, it is no use the shore gang bringing out more bales to cause congestion at the ship's side, so the men, at times, sit on their trucks awaiting the signal "all clear." But they are not loafing. If some of the critics would take a stroll on the wharf when a scow is being loaded with bags of basic slag, per medium of a chute, they would see a job oh which no man who values his life would dare to loaf. C. E. Abchibald. Northumberland Avenue, Takapuna.