SHIPPING DELAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 31, Issue 9, 11 December 1945, Page 5

SHIPPING DELAY

UNION WATERSIDERS STAND LOCAL SCRATCH CREW DIS-; MISSED An incident which, caused some concern at the meeting of the Haiv hour Board la.sl Friday s was related by the Secretary, who discussed the question of the serious delay in vargoes reaching the port l'rom Auckland and for which, the North, ern Steamship Company was largely to blame on account of its limited shipping facilities. It was stated that two ships berthed at the wharf at the same time each with a full complement of cargo for the port. By way of expediting the work of unloading both vessels and allowing them to return with back cargoes in the shortest possible time f> the Company's agent had engaged a scratch crew of seven men to start on the second ship, while the regular watersiders unloaded the first. There was immediate reaction on the; part of the union members who threatened to go on strike then and there*, unless the scratch men were put off. Their objection was directed against the non-union members who would be carrying out work in reality, belonging to them. It was thus deemed wisest to put off the scratch team and allow the second boat to remain idle in port until the first was unloaded. Members agreed that the position was desperate when the men were able to actually hold up the working of vessels in port when every other endeavour was being made to bring about a quicker and more reliable service.