Wharf-Labourers Earnings

NZ Truth, Issue 901, 3 March 1923, Page 1

Wharf-Labourers Earnings

That over-present problom of devising a scheme which would glvo a wharf laborer a regular week's wngo tru-ough tho greater pnrt of the year and abolish the. unequal periods of hectic overtime and Idleness has been given another "onoo-ovor" In Seattle, U.S.A. A Joint executive committee was sot up consisting of representatives of employers and employed and also three Joint standing committees tho various bodies thus formed being charged with the task of investigating the problem and recommending measures for its minimisation. The chief tusk of the committee was to bring About the 6l!:nlmit!oi\ of tho casual — lh« unskilled laborer who drifted to (|l» wataraide When work In. the eounto.tr at n* fcfcd roads was slack. To

accomplish this end it was agreed that no man who left the waterside should be allowed to return. B 3* this means the number of those who worked on' the waterfront was reduced m less than a year to less than half the "strength." The second task v. r as to equalise earnings, and for this purpose the' "gang", system was introduced. There were two kinds.of gangs, one the company gang and the other the- "hall" gang. The former- were selected by and employed by a single company getting first ca^l on all that company's work. The "hall" gang was selected by the joint committee and held m reserve at a central dispatching hall to meet the needs of all companies who were faced with a rush of work. The general operation of the system is said to have resulted m a considerable increase In average earnings, and to have improved conditions of work and goodwill between employers and employed." The ; result of the vrorklng 6i. the new experiment being undertaken m connection with Wellington waterside work is being awaited with great interest.