WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26558, 5 September 1947, Page 6

WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Sir,—At a meeting of the Otago Harbour Board on Thursday night Mr S. B. Macdonald (who is also secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union) made the definite statement that the waterside workers worked 59 hours per week. Now, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night Mr S. G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that one of the first things his party would do when it came into power would be to see that the waterside workers were not, as now, paid two hours for one hour’s work. How it ever came about that in a gang of men on wharf work in New Zealand one half works an hour while the other half looks on, and then vice versa, I do not know. So the men do not work 59 hours a week—giving Mr Macdonald full credit for his statement—but only 29J. They look on during the other 291 hours. Then they roll up to collect their payment for 59 hours, with a fair proportion of overtime.—l am. etc.. Can You Beat It? August 3.

Sir.—l see by the Daily Times of August 27 that the New Zealand Watersiders’ Union made application for an increase of 3d an hour on 3s sid. in consequence of standard wage, also lid an hour above skilled rate. If they are to be classed as skilled, well it is high time we all threw in the towel. They are on a fixed wage if no work is offering, which is a thing an outside labourer does not get. It is about time the Government took a firm stand with this section of toilers. They are well up the straight helping to put in another Government. Then perhaps they might wake up and find they have slaughtered the goose that laid the golden egg.—l am, etc., Not Blind.