WORK ON WHARF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24430, 16 October 1940, Page 13

WORK ON WHARF

IMPROVEMENT SLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN AUCKLAND HOURLY TONNAGE NO BETTER An increase of 20 per cent, mentioned by the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, in the rate of handling cargo since the appointment of the Waterside Control Commission and the introduction of the co-operative contract system (states the New Zealand Herald) does not apply to Auckland, according to figures compiled by the traffic section of the Auckland Harbour Board These have not yet been fully* analysed, but, while they suggest a slight improvement, it is described as nothing like 2Q per cent. Men ■ concerned with stevedoring operations disagree with the Minister, so far as his claims affect Auckland. One view expressed is that a slight improvement is solely due to men working extra hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Extra rates are paid for this work. Actually, the tonnage handled an hour is no better than it was. i Costs Much . Higher • Another opinion concedes a slight improvement in isolated cases, but this is far from general, the greater number of the men being concerned with increased earnings and not with increased service. There was unanimity on the point that there was still some bickering and disharmony on the waterfront, and that since the advent of the commission costs were a great deal higher. There is no general disposition among the men to work better,” said one man interested in stevedoring. “ There were,, of course, some good men on the waterfront.” The view that, while improvements had been effected by shipping companies in the gear used for loading primary products, facilities for general cargo were not as up-to-date as they might bg. was challenged in several quarters. “The facilities for general cargo are more up-to-date in Auckland than in Australian ports." said one man. “Yet in Australia a gang will handle from 18 to 24 tons an hour, against 9 or 10 tons by a gang of the same size in Auckland.” Opinion of Union “The contract system speeds up the work, the men having more incentive to work when they know that there is something to work for,” said the president of the , Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr T. H. Solomon. The men had made higher wages under the system, he said, especially with the loading of butter. Wellington’s wharves were more up-to-date, and, as there was more rocm than at Auckland. Wellington workers were faster on some types of cargo. There was little room between the sheds and the ships; on the Auckland wharves and if too many, gangs were working, it was likely to slow up the work. ■' ,