Watersiders’ Dirt Money

Grey River Argus, 12 November 1948, Page 3

Watersiders’ Dirt Money

WELLINGTON, November 9. Suggestions that the waterside workers were paid “dirt” money “out. of proportion to the job they were doing and in the nature of Christmas presents”, were denied in a statement this afternoon by the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union. The statement was made in reference to the contentions at the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation that there should be an investigation of “dirt” money payments, which were said to be adding thousands of pounds to freight costs and prices of goods. The union’s statement described the condition and types of cargo haTidled, and said an increased problem was inadequate containers in which cargoes were often shipped. The union cited instances whe’’e w. teisiders had had to receive medical attention after handling certain cargoes.