SHIP OWNERS BLAMED

Chronicle (Levin), 22 October 1947, Page 5

SHIP OWNERS BLAMED

Press Association)

OTHER SIDE OF LEFT FOOD PARCELS STORY *

(Per

r AUCKLAND, Oct. 21. Denving any" responsibility for the fact that 11,000 fobd parcels for Britain were left on the wharf Avhen the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Rangitata finished loading on Saturdav afternoon, the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union today stated that tlie question of the vessel's crew loading the parcels after the watersiders had finished work, was not put to the union. ' ' Tlie waterside workers are definitely sympatlietie towards the Food for Britain campaign and the quiek turn around of ships," said a statement issued by the secretary of the union, Mr. R. E. Jones. "To this end workers 011 the Avaterfront are at the disposal of employers for a spread-over working week of (53 hours. That is more than one and a-half times the Avorking week enjoyed by other -industries. No person will dispute the point that a working week of (53 hours is an exceptionally long one which ultimately Avill take a toll on the health and well-being of the worker. ' ' Coneerning the incident of the food parcels being left behind by the Rangitata last Saturday, the union says that it met every obliagtion of its contract. The ship Avas worked a full 63 hours. The union Avas therefore compelled to give the publie the truth about the loading of the vessel. The statement went on to allege the ineflfieiency of the XeAv Zealand Shipping Company on that occasion. ' ' In making this reply to the allegations that the fault lay with the union, there are several features of the actual loading of the vessel that must be emphasised," the statement added. "Firstly, the ship sailed with about 7000 cubic feet of space available. This could have been utilised for the stowing of the parcels that were left behind. The gang which had been working on No. 6 hatch was dismissed at noon on .Thursday, the loading of the hold not being completed. Another gang was engaged to Avork on this

hatch to start on Friday. This gang was also dismissed at 5 p.m. on Friday leaving sufiicient space for .three to four hours' work.- The men on the gang complained to tlie stevedore in charge but the stevedore said the reason for stopping work was because no crane driver AAras available. The men then suggested that the' ship 's gear be used but they were told to mind their own business as the shipping company was in charge of loadingxoperations and not the watersiders. In No. 5 hold the men were dismissed at 9 p.m. on Friday, leaving enough space for approximately three hours' work. It must be emphasised that both No. 5 and No. 6 gangs Avere actually loading food parcels when they were dismissed on Friday and no other work was performed on these holds on Saturday. '£On Saturday at 9.30 a.m. the union walking delegate spoke to the company's stevedore on the. question of Avorking on Saturday afternoon and the company's foreman assured thd union representative that all cargo would be iu tlie ship by 5 p.m. but it was possible that some of the food parcels would be' left behind." The foreman, alleged the statement,

said the company was not much concerned about that as the Somerset would be taking the overflow. The question of the ship's crew working after '5 p.m. was not discussed. Fortv cases of Red Cross parcels were to be shipped in the Rangitata, 15 tons fc'reight free. The union understands that as soon as the 15 tons were in the ehip no more were loaded and 10 cases were left on the Avharf despite the fact tliat there A\-as room in the vessel.