WASTE ON N.Z. WHARVES

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 4

WASTE ON N.Z. WHARVES

Estimated At About £1,000,000

MR W. J. POLSON’S CRITICISM

“CONDITIONS WORST IN THE WORLD”

(United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 20 “It is difficult to estimate the loss created by waste and destruction occurring on the Dominion’s wharves, but it probably amounts to something approaching £1,000,000,” said Mr W. J. Polson, M.P., when commenting on the remarks . of Mr G. C. G. Maclnaoe, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board about the alleged inefficiency of New Zealand waterside workers

No step had yet been taken by the Government, he said, to make public its actions about the urgent representations made on March 16 by the New Zealand Primary and Ancillary Industries Producers’ Council “to hold a public inquiry immediately into labour conditions upon the waterfront with a view to a reduction and removal of the waste and national losses now being incurred”

“So far there has been no response to the demand for an inquiry,” said Mr Polson, in detailing the situation as seen by the Producers’ Council, of which he is chairman. “Does any significance attach to the fact that since the demand was made the most powerful figure in the waterfront Labour organization, Mr James Roberts, secretary to the Waterside Workers’ Federation of New Zealand, has been triumphantly elected president of the New Zealand Labour Party?” The Position of Farmers Farmers who had seen their costs steadily rising, and who had observed the automatic rises and increases in freezing and shipping charges were already aware that a great deal of the added toll upon their produce was levied on the waterfront, continued Mr Polson. The loss created by the waste and destruction occurring probably amounted to nearly £1,000,000. When there was added to that figure the increased costs, firstly, ashore in the sending back and freezing down of the produce which the men refused to load and, secondly, at the ship’s side in the overloading of each job with unnecessary men, double banking and “go-slow” tactics employed, the amount of the loss to the farming community became far greater. “Responsible officers of ocean-going ships have made definite statements that, in spite of the fine equipment on our wharves, our waterside conditions are the worst in the world,” said Mr Polson. “In Australia produce is loaded at double the speed and half the cost. In Argentina—our other great competitor—work is done even more expeditiously and at less cost than in Australia. No Government can stand by and see things go on as they are," he declared. “The present situation creates an intolerable position that cries aloud for adjustment, and it must be adjusted. Mr Roberts has been elected president of the New Zealand Labour Party. The important point in this connection is, of course, whether it is waterside labour’s answer to the demand for a cessation of waste and destruction on the wharves of New Zealand or merely a tribute to the growing power of this class of labour.”

GENERAL OPINION IN DUNEDIN

“CONDITIONS FAR FROM SATISFACTORY”

(United Press Association)

DUNEDIN, April 20. The contention of the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr G. C. G. Maclndoe) that the handling of ships’ cargoes by waterside workers in New Zealand left much to be desired, received support from several local shipping agents today, the consensus of opinion being that the conditions on the waterfront were far from satisfactory, and that cargoes were not being handled with the despatch that was customary some years ago. “There are some good men working on the Dunedin wharves but they are outnumbered by those who merely fill in time,” a Dunedin shipping agent said when approached by The Otago Daily Times representative. “We do not get the work out of the men that we used to and when non-union labour is employed the Waterside Workers’ Union loses no time in replacing outsiders with its own men, so that non-unionists are lucky if they get a day’s work in a week. Mr Maclndoe deserves a great deal of credit for coming out so boldly, as it is high time that something was done. It is a disgrace that mail boats and other vessels do not get fair dispatch.” . “The position in Dunedin is not bad, said the manager of one shipping company, “but the men at Port Chalmers do not work as they did in the past. The loading of frozen meat is an example. Watersider workers are paid at the rate of 2/8 an hour for general cargo, with an extra 6d an hour for frozen cargo. On Saturday morning they are paid at time and a-hal£ rates, and double time on Saturday afternoons. That means they are entitled to 5/10 an hour on Saturday afternoon, but they refuse to work. A very unsatisfactory position is created if frozen meat has to be loaded on Saturday morning and rain delays operations. The meat has to be sent back by rail to the freezing works until Sunday night, and then railed back again to Port Chalmers at extra cost, all because the men will not work on Saturday afternoons.” “They are the biggest lot of loafers on God’s earth, and the best paid,” said another man intimately connected with shipping and stevedoring. He added that Mr Maclndoe had hit the nail on the head.

DIFFERENT SYSTEM TO BE TRIED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 20. “I am surprised that Mr Maclndoe has again introduced this matter, as at the present time negotiations are being carried on to operate work on the waterfront under a different system,” said Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation, commenting on the statement made by Mr G. C. Maclndoe, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. Recently, added Mr Roberts, a deputation of waterside workers had waited on Mr Maclndoe, and they understood he had agreed to this system being put into operation. Mr Roberts said he.

would be surprised if the Auckland employers of waterside labour would agree to the proposal suggested by Mr Maclndoe; that was that the Auckland Harbour Board should appoint its own