WATERFRONT PROBLEMS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 4, 26 July 1946, Page 5

WATERFRONT PROBLEMS

UNION MEMBER’S ADDRESS MEETING AT TANEATUA Arising out of a discussion on the frequent hold ups on the waterfront and the consequent delay in the discharging and loading of overseas shipping, the Taneatua Branch of the N.Z. Labour Party took the opportunity of inviting a member of the Auckland Watersider’s Union to address a public meeting in the Taneatua Hall on the 18th instant, to explain the causes of these delays from the watersider’s viewpoint.

An attendance of approximately fifty who braved the torrential downpour last Thursday evening, were rewarded with a very interesting and illuminating address by Mr J. Mitchell, who dealt with, all angles of his subject in a very able manner.

He explained the composition of the Auckland Union, which consisted of about 1800 members, including 500 ex-servicemen from both wars, and he pointed out the strong discipline administered by the Union.

Disputes Mr Mitchell dealt at length with the origin of disputes, and he outlined the method of dealing with them, and quoted numerous examples where no agreement could be reached. He explained that in the first instance a local Disputes Committee consisting of representatives from the local Union and the Employers, dealt with the dispute, and that in cases where it was able to arrive at a decision agreeable to both sides the matter was settled. If however no agreement could be arived at the dispute was dealt with by the National Disputes Committee which was comprised of representatives of workers and employers on a national basis. If there were still no agreement it was referred to the Waterfront Control Commission, which as the name implied was a cpmmission (set up by the Government in 1940) for the purpose of ensuring the utmost expedition in the loading, unloading and storage of cargo at all ports in the Dominion. During 1944 there were 108 disputes referred to the Commission by the National Disputes Committee embracing the whole of the Dominion. Of these disputes four were put

forward by the employers, and 104 by the workers. They were disposed of as follows: Four were withdrawn, one by the employers and three by the workers, judgment in favour of the employers was given in 49 cases and to the workers in 32, while in 23 claims the decision was reserved.

Equipment The speaker also dealt extensively with the equipment in use on whar--uag aq* cq guT}e;s ‘soa eral belief, the port of Auckland is seriously handicapped, through the lack of mechanical gear such as tractors and trailers, and that the facilities available were far from modern. When the Americans came to Auckland they brought equipment which was a revelation to the watersiders, and as a result the rate of work was vastly improved. Mr Mitchell quoted figures to show this and stated that the Union had received letters of appreciation from Officers of the United States Command in the Pacific for their cooperation and assistance in the quick turn around of shipping. Now that the war was over things had drifted back to the old style, although some of the American gear had been purchased by the Harbour Board, it was not being used as extensively as it should. Increased Results f

The system of payment by results, since the Co-operative contract scheme had been instituted had been of great benefit to all 'concerned. It had speeded up the work and had proved that the quicker that a vessel was loaded and discharged the greater the return to the men at an hourly rate, and the sooner they were available for other work. During the last five years an amount of £670,000 had been paid to the watersiders throughout New Zealand in profit distribution, on contract rates based on the Shipping Companies proposals of 1938. This formed some indication of how the work had been speeded up. The latest figures for loading frozen produce, the speaker said, were as follows: 800 boxes of butter per hour, 220 crates of cheese, 710 running carcases of mutton and lamb, and 420 freight carcases of frozen sundries per gang of 21 men. At the present rates this worked out at the approximate cost of l|d per carcase of mutton and lamb, and l-3/sths of a penny per box for loading butter. Mr Mitchell also explained briefly the social activities and welfare work of the Union, how for years

the watersiders had been administering aid to those in need at the Auckland Hospital, and he quoted letters of appreciation from various sources.

Before the meeting closed he answered many questions put forward by the audience. In conclusion he strongly stressed the points that the waterside worker was very much alive to the necessity of co-operation between all branches of the workers, and the producers, and that it was realised that the welfare of the farmer reflected on the community in regard to the payment of wages and conditions of employment. He stated that a proper understanding of the problems and difficulties of both the employer of labour and the worker in all branches of industry and production, would be of benefit to the community as a whole. To this end the President of the Farmers’ Union had been invited to address the Annual Conference of Waterside Workers, and it had been arranged for articles explaining the problems of the watersider to be published in a publication issued by the farmers. At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks which was carried by acclamation, was passed to the speaker, and to Mr Santon who presided.