LABOUR FOR WHARVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 3

LABOUR FOR WHARVES

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

Approach To Grain Merchants

In an effort to ensure that sufficient labour is available to work ships calling at the Port of Oamaru the Oamaru Harbour Board decided at its monthly meeting yesterday to solicit the assistance of grain merchants for additional labour. Mr A. R. Tait, who introduced the subject, commented on a newspaper report referring to the delayed departure of the Kaiapoi recently because only three gangs were available to work the ship. Mr E. S. Symon pointed out that a factor in the ship’s delay was the adverse conditions, coupled with the fact that the Kaiapoi was in port over a week-end. ,

Mr Tait said that if the membership o£ the Watersiders’ Union were kept to 50 by the Port Committee the board should point out the inconvenience that would be caused. If the port was to secure more shipping the union should be given permission to accept more men. Mr Tait said he had in mind that Oamaru was shortly to receive a call by a wheat boat which would require four gangs. It was no use trying to obtain these ships and then find there was a shortage of labour. There were three gangs and three men over in the union, the harbour master. Captain J. E. Hancox, said. Extra gangs were made up by outside labour. “ I think we should communicate with the grain merchants suggesting they should co-operate with the hoard bv 'releasing men to work the boats,” Mr McMillan said. “This is of interest to them because if a ship bypasses Oamaru and goods have to he railed to other ports it adds greatly to the cost.” If the number of unionists were too small the only thing to do was to enlarge the union. If the union did not object to this the board could write asking the Port Committee to increase the numbers in the union. It could be argued if it would be advantageous to increase the number of the union, as the authority would have to pay more guaranteed wages, Mr C. F. Hood said. A shortage of wharf labour existed all over New Zealand at present, Mr Symon said. This was because of seasonal work, which absorbed a large amount of nonunion labour. Next month four or five gangs would be available to work boats at Oamaru. The union would not object to more men joining its ranks. As for the stores releasing men that would be impossible, as the stores required the labour when boats were in port.

“If Home shipping, comes here lire* Port Committee will have to take in more men,” Mr Symon said. “At present the shipping is so irregular that it would not be economical to take in more men.” In reply to a question, Mr Symon said the union members, under the present system of a guaranteed wage, could not object to the number of gangs working a boat. After further discussion it was decided to approach the grain merchants.