COSTS INCREASE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3295, 2 August 1943, Page 5

COSTS INCREASE

WORK ON WATERFRONT WATERSIDERS’ ATTITUDE MR SUTHERLAND’S STATEMENT The contention that the Waterfront Control Commission had not improved things on the waterfront by one per cent, was made by Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, when waterfront work was being discussed in the House of Representatives recently. Mr Sutherland said he, personally, would not worry about anything Mi Roberts did, so long as he were successful in speeding up matters, but he had not managed to do that. The Minister of Labour had stated recently that there had f been a saving in the time in the “turn-round” of ships of 25 per cent. The Prime Minister had taken the information given by the Waterfront Control Commission, which was not just right. Only Six Hours Worked

The Commission had one way of working out things, and the employers another. In an eight-hour day, not more than six hours were worked. If it was dealing, say, with 100' tons of cargo, the Commission’s record would show that the gang had shifted 16 2-5 tons per hour between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., whereas the employers’ record would show the average as 12£ tons per hour—the correct tonnage. The Commission would base its time on what was known as winch time. Well Paid For Work The Minister had claimed that vessels were turned round now much more quickly than in- pre-war days, but one had to remember that the men were now working at week-ends, including Sundays. They were receiving high rates of pay and overtime. He would be one of the first to accede them those rates if they were getting results. Mr Sutherland said the attitude of the watersiders was selfish, when compared with the attitude of the primary producers, who had to work in all weathers. The Minister talked about 80 hours a -week, and of old men working. There were a lot of very fine old chaps working; they kept going well, but they were well paid for their work. £lB to £2O Per Week If a man worked 80' hours a week he would receive £lB 10s to £2O, which was not a bad wage. The average week was 48 hours and the average wage about £lO. Mr Sutherland said the Minister had put up a weak case in trying to make the public believe that the Commission had done great work. The. Commission, he contended, had not improved things on the waterfront by one per cent. Mr Sutherland said that as chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board he would claim to know a little about work on the waterfront. Costs on the waterfront had increased.