WATERFRONT LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 164, 17 July 1946, Page 4

WATERFRONT LABOUR

GOOD WORK DONE AT PORT ON MONDAY MUCH CARGO HANDLED ‘•The discussion which took place at the Harbour Board meeting on Monday, if correctly reported, did not present correctly the situation that obtained on the Wanganui waterfront that day. Instead of there being a hold-up through a labour shortage a very good day's work was accomplished which was pleasing to all concerned," said Mr. F. W. Gould, branch manager of the Waterfront, Industry Commission, interviewed by’ the "Chronicle.” "There were certainly five ships in the port, but only four of these required Io be worked, the fifth vessel was sheltering in the port. The Alexander and the Gale were worked and dispatched on Monday. The Holmdale was worked at the Town Wharf, which left the Breeze standing by waiting for labour. "Nearly 100 men were employed on Monday to work the three ships and to have engaged additional men would have served no good purpose, as the extra men would have been redundant. The men who were engaged worked from 8 ajn. to 9 p.m. which, with two hours off for meals, ensured 11 working hours during the day. In these 11 hours aapproximately 100 men discharged 500 tons of general cargo, 300 tons of cement, and loaded 1200 bales of wool. Putting each bale of wool at half a ton, just under 1400 tons of cargo was handled by the men on the waterfront, on Monday. I consider this performance a very creditable one, which would compare favourably with work done at any other port whatsoever in this Dominion.”

A study of the report published in the “Chronicle” on Tuesday will show that no specific reference was made to a hold-up on Monday. The chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, Mr. E. A. Millward, merely stated that there was not sufficient labour to go around, which is borne out. by the fact that the Breeze was standing by waiting for labour. Mr. H. R. Beauchamp was very fair to the waterside workers when he stated that there were occasions when they had little work, with a consequent reduction in remuneration. The Harbour Board discussion, however, was on the question o£ more labour being available on those occasions when the port is exceptionally busy. Periodical shortages of wharf labour are not confined to Wanganui. They are experienced by every port in New Zealand. Mr. Gould’s statement shows that the wartersiders did a very good job of work on Monday, b ut this is not tbe first ofasion on which a public tribute has been paid to waterfront work at Wanganui. A few months ago the “Chronicle” published similar remarks made by the master of a coastal trader which visits Wanganui regularly. The question at issue, however, is more labour being made available on those occasions when there is congestion at the port, due mainly to delays elsewhere and had weather cans ng several vessels to arrive at the same time. A solution to this problem can only be arrived at by the parties concerned. —Editor.