CARGO HANDLING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19882, 8 March 1939, Page 6

CARGO HANDLING

CAUSES OF DELAYS CONFERENCE TO-MORROW EMPLOYERS AND .MEN FRANK TALK PLANNED (Per Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, this day. The conference convened by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, of representatives of employers and workers to discuss the alleged unsatisfactory conditions on the waterfront, will meet at Parliament Buildings to-morrow. “It is my earnest desire," says the Minister, “to bring about an improvement in the handling of cargo at the various ports and to find out the reasons for the dissatisfaction that exists. It lias been alleged that handling charges have been considerably increased because of the slow methods adopted by the workers and that stoppages of work have occurred over trivial matters, also that a feeling of suspicion exists between the empio> er.s and the workers.

“On tiie other hand, it lias beet stated that the handling charges hav< been increased through lack of proper organisation at some of the p. such as a shortage of wagons and congestion of goods in the wharf sheds resulting in the idleness of gangs employed, also over stowed cargo necessitating the extra handling of goods. Whatever truth there might be in these and other statements made, it is desired to look into them and to provide remedial measures.

“There is no doubt that much good will result in a frank discussion of the position.” The organisations to be represented at tiie conference will be the Waterside Industrial Association of Employers, the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, tiie New Zealand Harbour Boards’ Association, and tiie New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union.