PORT FACILITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 6

PORT FACILITIES

IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED CUSTOMS STAFF'S QUARTERS PORT CHALMERS NEEDS The accommodation provided at the Dunedin wharves for Customs officers and at Port Chalmers for waterside workers and tally clerks received some severe criticism at the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last night. It was decided to request the Government to pay half the cost of the construction of a Customs building at Dunedin, estimated to cost £4OOO, and the Port Chalmers question was referred to a sub-committee of the board for a report.

The subject of the Customs accommodation arose on receipt of a letter from the Collector of Customs, who advised that the Acting Minister had approved of the proposed building for the Customs wharf staff. It was some years since the board was first approached, and it was not desirable that the improvements should be delayed. The Controller was prepared to recommend the Acting Minister to provide certain accessories for the building from the Consolidated Fund. A draft reply, which was before the board, stated that the reason why finance might cause delay in providing accommodation for the Customs wharf staff was that, wehereas the plans originally approved for the building had involved a cost of £I7OO, the cost would now be about £4OOO. The board could not, therefore, lightly undertake the work, as it already had a full programme in hand. The relief which it was suggested might be afforded from the Consolidated Fund would amount to only about £250, so that the board would be left with an expenditure of £3750. The board suggested that the Government might find half of the total cost of the work. IMMEDIATE START NEEDED " I think that whether we get assistance or not we should start this work immediately," said Mr F. Tyson. "The conditions at the Dunedin wharves for the Customs officers are appalling, and I cannot imagine any business house working its employees under similar conditions. The present accommodation is in a disgusting state." "I agree that the conditions are wretched," said the chairman (Mr J. B. Waters), "but if the board is going to do this work right away it should get some quid pro quo." Mr D. F. H. Sharpe said the time was long overdue when better accommodation should be provided for the Customs staff. The conditions were practically on a par with what the waterside workers had to put up with, and the fact that they did put up with them showed how loyal they had been to the board. He thought the matter should be taken in hand straight away, and that the board should make its arrangements accordingly. Mr R. Duncan emphasised the fact that building costs were likely to be largely increased in the near future. He understood that the Carpenters' Union was asking for an award which would mean an increase in wages of from 15 to 20 per cent. He thought the work should be put on the immediate programme. Mr D. Copland said It was only finance that was delaying the building, and he suggested that the Government should be asked for a subsidy. Mr W. Begg said that other local bodies were having labour subsidised by £2 5s a week per man, and he thought the board might receive a subsidy if it applied for one. Mr J. W. Munro asked whether, if the work were let to a contractor, a subsidy would.be granted. He doubted It was decided to forward the draft letter to the department. WATERSIDE WORKERS With respect to the accommodation for waterside workers and tally clerks at Port Chalmers, a report was received from the Standing Committee recommending that these matters should be left in the hands of the chairman, the deputy-chairman, and the engineer to submit a report to the board. The chairman said there was no doubt that something must be done very shortly for the Waterside Workers' Union at Port Chalmers, where about 243 men were cramped into a small building. The only remedy appeared to be to get a lease of some adjoining land and erect a building there. The present building might then house the tally clerks. It had been suggested that the men might be able to shelter in old railway carriages on the wharf, but the reply of the railway authorities to that was not Darticularly encouraging. He moved that the Standing Committees recommendation should be adopted. Mr T. Scollay seconded the motion. He said the present building .for the waterside workers was impossible. The chairman: We propose to get in touch with the owners of the adjoining land and see what can be done in that respect. There does not seem to be room on the wharf except for railway carriages which can be moved about. ...... Mr A. Campbell suggested that it would be wise to make provision for the men on the end of the wharf, where they could sit in comfort. One shed they occupied at present contained mainlv sawdust and fleas. Mr D. Copland expressed the opinion that there was enough room on the end of the George street pier for the erection of a suitable shed. After further short discussion the motion was carried.