WATERSIDE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 4

WATERSIDE WORK

TEAES OF STRAIN UNION SECRETARY'S CLAIMS The claim that longer hours were being worked on the waterfront than in any industry in the Dominion was made by Mr. H. Barnes, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, when giving evidence before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. He added that it was impossible to obtain sufficient competent men for the waterfront. Mr- Barnes appeared in support of an appeal by 0. L. Walton against a direction to the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Southdown, as a labourer. Evidence was given that appellant was a member of the Merchant Navy in the last war and had been mobilised for 11 months in the Army during this war. He was grade 2. He had been released to work in the freezing industry. Appellant had been a member of the Waterside Workers' Union for over 20 years. "A direction has been given by the Minister of Industrial Manpower, the Hon, A. McLagan, that grade 2 and 3 men are to bo returned to their unions," said Mr. Barnes. "We have been labouring under a terrific strain for several years. "I do not care what has been laid down by any individual," said the chairman of the committee, Mr. J. O. Liddell. "The committee is here to hear every case individually and to come to our decision on the evidence. The release of grade 2 and 3 men does not apply only to the wharf, anyway." "The manpower shortage on the wharf is just as acute as at Westfield," continued Mr. Barnes. "If you are going to take away our competent men it will bring things to a farcical situation." "It is no use making those statements," said Mr. Liddell. "You may know something about conditions on the wharf, but you do not know the Westfield situation from an expert's point of view." "The waterfront cannot afford to lose another man," said Mr. Barnes. "We have 1960 men on our register, but there have been only three or fojir clays in the past year which have been slack. At times we have had over 4000 men working on the wharf during one day." "While admitting some of your statements, the fact remains that the Government has given first priority to food production," ,stated the chairman. "We are placed in a most awkward position." Decision was reserved, pending the appellant undergoing a medical boarding-