H—4s

(b) CANTEEN FACILITIES While the Commission considers the Harbour Boards at the four main ports should accept the responsibility placed on them under the Harbours Act of providing waitingrooms, the Commission has agreed at these ports to meet the cost of fitting and equipping canteens, on the understanding that the cost of erecting or providing the building will be met by the Boards. In addition to the main restaurant at Auckland, the Harbour Board has provided four canteens at the various wharves, and the Commission has expended approximately £14,000 in providing fittings and equipment for their operation. At Wellington the Commission has spent approximately £9,000 in providing equipment in the main restaurant and canteen at Aotea Quay. The Wellington Harbour Board has erected a waiting-room and canteen at Taranaki Street wharf, and canteen facilities will be available in this building at an early date. The Lyttelton Harbour Board has let contracts for the erection of two canteen buildings at that port. The Commission will meet the cost of all necessary equipment, and the canteens should be in operation at an early date. During the year the Commission purchased the Harbour View Tea-rooms adjacent to the New Plymouth wharves. These tea-rooms have since been operated on behalf of the Commission for the provision of hot meals and canteen facilities for waterside workers. Canteen facilities are provided in waiting-rooms erected by the Commission at the Ports of Napier, Westport, Greymouth, Nelson, and Bluff. (c) FIRST-AID CLINICS With the full co-operation of the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Department of Health, and the Wellington Harbour Board, the Commission arranged for the establishment of a first-aid clinic on the Wellington waterfront. This clinic was opened on 3rd June, 1948, and is providing an important service to the industry. It has resulted in the saving of man-hours in the industry as workers are now able to obtain dressings and redressings at the clinic, which would otherwise have been carried out at the public hospital. The first-aid room was made available by the Wellington Harbour Board, and this Board also met the initial expenditure on equipment. The Health Department has provided the services of a qualified nurse, who is in attendance from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. As from Ist January, 1949, the Department has also accepted the responsibility for maintenance and equipment. A first-aid clinic was opened at Lyttelton on 14th February, 1949. The Lyttelton Harbour Board provided the building, and the Health Department met the cost of the equipment and provided the services of a full-time qualified nurse. This clinic has fully justified its existence and is serving the needs not only of waterside workers, but of all other workers on or about the waterfront at Lyttelton. During the year the Commission made a grant of £4OO to the St. John Ambulance Association to assist towards the cost of purchasing a new ambulance for the Lyttelton district. Negotiations are proceeding for the establishment of a first aid clinic at the Port of Auckland. 8. ANNUAL HOLIDAYS AND STATUTORY HOLIDAYS (a) ANNUAL HOLIDAYS Published in the Appendix (page 73) is a table showing the number of half-days' annual holidays allocated to unionists at all main and secondary ports. This table, however, excludes approximately 450 unionists at Wellington on the Wellington Harbour Board Register.

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