NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 5

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

MORE ABOUT THE BOSS SWEATING SHOP OF N.Z.

Commentiitg upon the exposure m "Truth a few weeks back, of what the Napier Harbor Board expected a cheap jclerk to perform, a correspondent writes :— Regarding your remarks a few weeks back about the Napier Harbor Board, I can, give you a few more particulars about the duties required of a clerk to that institution. I was employed by that body for i 5 years, Mr J. P. Kenny having the honor of being secretary during that period. I started at a salary of £24 per annum, and finished up at £65, I was supposed to be a messenger at the start, but before long my duties were typist, weighbridge clerk, assistant tally clerk, assistant cargp delivery clerk, assistant wharfage and assistant rate clerk. As weighbridge clerk I had frequently to go without a halfholiday, and to work until 7,, 8, 9, and sometimes 10 o'clock at night, starting very soften at 7 and 7.30 am. Then at the breakwater I have m one or two instances worked till 10 and 11 p.m., twice till midnight, and once till 2.30 a.m. on a Sunday morning? I received no overtime, but 14 days holiday a year. In 1905, two out of the staff of 11 received this holiday. The language we had to put up with from one official was very • choice, and such as cannot be written. Things got too lively about August, when the tally clerk at the breakwater left (through his own fault, though) ; then the assistant wharfinger went, too, after an argument with the secretary, the ; latter spraining his thumb m the discussion. I was the next to go. The first week m the new year (1906) we were' all told to make no evening engagements, as we were required back at the office every night. This wouldn't suit me, so when I refused to go back one night, I was told by the secretary not to come back at all. This I did, and I received a letter next day, asking me to explain my absence, and answered telling the secretary that he told me to stop away altogether. He wrote statins my "resignation" .(?) was accepted, and that the- statements m my letter were contrary to fact. At the end of the month I (received only one week's salary. I don't know whether I am entitled to any more, but I don't feel inclined to trouble them for it. The secretary told me I would regret leaving such a "good" billet, but I am at present m a much better one, and doing tip-top. Since I left, three other clerks have left also. I believe now all the hands are to sign .for a year's engagement.