AMERICAN WINCHES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 761, 6 September 1929, Page 14

AMERICAN WINCHES

FURTHER STATEMENTS FROM WATERSIDERS’ UNION DISPATCH VERSUS SAFETY Exception Has been taken by officials of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union and waterfront winch drivers to certain statements made by officers of several of the Oceanic and Oriental Line of American cargo steamers. THESE were to the effect that the manner in which the winches on these vessels are worked in New Zealand is an example of superfluous labour, as, in America, one man operates both a port and a starboard winch, thus doing the work of two men. The raised platforms from which the winches are driven on these ships make it possible for one man to handle the controls of two winches. These statements were embodied in an article which appeared in The Sun on August 28 last. A Sun reporter had approached the Waterside Workers’ Union for information as to its attitude on the subject and the statements made to him were incorporated in the article. Since publication of this article an official of the union has got into touch with The Sun and has added to the statements previously received from that body. He stated:—• 1. That the quicker working of cargo in America was due to the fact that there were very few restrictions in force there such as exist in New Zealand for the protection of waterside workers against accidents. There was no limit on the weight and size of a sling load. 2. That the quicker handling of cargo in America was in nowise due to the alleged faster and more expeditous operating of each set of winches resulting from one man, and thus one mind, controlling the set. It had been alleged that the one-man control brought about perfect co-ordination of movement. 3. That he defied any one man to work two such winches with the same speed as two men, much less with greater speed. It had been tried in New Zealand and found an utter impossibility.

4. That the winches in question were very fast and touchy. The slightest movement of the controlling lever was sufficient to set them in action. The neutral positions were very indefinite and the operating levers tricky. There was not sufficient latitude for reasonable working and drivers had to use too much gniess work. They compared very unfavourably with the average winch. 5. That for those reasons many winch drivers, capable men, could not bo induced to drive tlie winches, even on the basis of “one man one winch.” They were literally afraid. The fierce and touchy nature of the winches led to accidents. Men sometimes lost their heads and instances had occurred where another man had had to seize the operating lever from a confused driver and stop his winch for him.

6. That no employer would try to persuade the union to allow him to work the winches on the basis of one man to two winches, firstly because it meant slower work, and secondly because it was too dangerous—all the employers were of that opinion. 7. That a winch driver in America was able to operate both winches because he was a specialist in that type of work. Furthermore, there were not the safety measures in force there to prevent accidents that arise from such winch driving. “We have often received reports from these vessels that men have been killed working them in America, particularly in the handling of timber,” stated the official. 8. That before these ships were fitted with the raised platforms many accidents used to occur to winch drivers through timber falling down on them from the top of deck loads which were usually from 12 to lGft high.

9. That the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union favoured the platforms, regarding them as an advantage both from the point of view of safety of drivers and of facility in working troublesome winches.