Work In Full Swing On Auckland Waterfront

Chronicle (Levin), 20 August 1949, Page 2

Work In Full Swing On Auckland Waterfront

AUCKLAND, ' AiigUsf I® • ; ' ] The port of Auckland' swung', iplb activity today after. being -I seven working days. Two,. tlvbus^nd j watersiders, incfading" 400 non-uriioiiisf^ began handling about ' 50,000 tdn0 ; | cargo in ships at the waterfront. . * .s . ' The vessels at the wharves inciude-dl overseas freighters. Gounting those anchored in the stream, .there are 20 overseas and large coastal vessels horci. Overtinie will be worked tonight for • the first time in nearly ,6ight' week's.' Before resuming work this moming the unionists held a brief meeting to rb; ! ceive reports and- tlien in a good humour went to the engageipent' bnreao. There was a rush for the engagement boards and most of the diSc-s 1 were cleared by 8.30. j Labour for tomorrow morning tiao requisit'ioned today in accordance witn the usual practice. Commission control with a guaranteed wage and the cooperative eontraci; system has not yet been restored to the; Auckland Waterfront. . This Was a^sur-. prise to some watersidefs who thought that on resuming they would automdtic-" ally qualify fop, their old privileges. These - were witbdrawn by the sUBpension of the main order of th6 coxnmiu* sion a few days after thg men refused on June 27 to Work evening overtime. Un^in representatives are to nxedt i the Government next week to discuSs the re-establishment of commission control. Meanwhile, the commission eontinues aeting in an administrative capacity as an employing agent for the shippiqg.compaiu.es. • ' ' . . ! There was sueh a heavy demand for labour today that all the requirenients could not be met. The diseharge of 20,000 cases of bananas bfought by the Matua from the Islands yesterd&y. Wks started immediately. Sac'ks of Sou'th Island potatoes which came ashore in the first sling from the freighter Waipori appeared to be in reasonable condition notwithstanding the long timq they had been in the hold. Only two gangs were available. to work the hatcheS of the Waiana which has 1000 bags of potatoes aboard.