WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 7

WORK ON THE WATERFRONT

Sir,—l read with interest your leader on "Friction and Waste." Why do not the Harbour Board run their business on business lines? It seems that they nro unwilling to take the risk of whether one year or another is going to be good or bad. and they at once turn on the poor, unfortunate worker, and tell him we are willing to pay you when trade is good, but we do not require you when trade is bad. The general public perhaps do not know that many men apply for work on the wharf, and . although waiting from day to day are unable to obtain it sometimes for two and three weeks. One heaTs of a wharf labourer making ud b £1 10s. per week, but what about his lost time and the fact that in order to make this wage he has to work from 8 o'clock in the morning to 10 at night? 'Noiv. the Harbour Board has full stat'is-' tics for tho past twenty or thirty years, and can easily calculate the cost per ton of loading and discharging vessels in this port. Take the average required number of men, guarantee them a living wage, or so much per week. Pay such men so much per ton of cargo discharged or loaded in accordance with cost calculated as above. When wage is equal or in excess for any one week the .guarantee for such week will cease. One recognises that the shipping is not regular, and at times there will be a dearth of work. But the Harbour' Board having ascertained the average number of men employed, wages paid, and the cargo handled, are they not willing as a trading concern to go one better, and employ more men.than the absolute minimum required, and run their business on their own instead of piecemeal, as at present. —I am. etc., DIVIDED WE FALL, UNITED WE STAND.