WHARF LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24403, 14 September 1940, Page 10

WHARF LABOUR

BUREAU SYSTEM FOR DUNEDIN EARLY INAUGURATION CO-OPERATIVE METHODS ' The bureau system of working overseas vessels on the waterfront at Du'nedin and Port Chalmers, is to .be adopted within tine next' few days. The system has been operating successfully in the North Island and at Lyttelton and Timaru for some time, end it is anticipated that its acceptance here will be to the benefit of waterside labour and employers alike. The most important aspect of the scheme, however, is that it is designed to increase the efficiency of waterfront work generally, and to enable shipping agents to arrange time-tables for their vessels with a view to ensuring their joining specified convoys end so obviating delay; caused through waiting for other convoys to be formed. It is intended to extend the system to include Bluff at an early date and when this has been done, all the main ports will be working on the same method. Coastal shipping is hot yet to be included in the scheme butnegotiations are proceeding to evolve ways and means of adapting the system to this class of work. The principal negotiations between the waterside workers and the shipping companies for the operation of the. cooperative scheme will be carried out in Wellington by the Waterfront Control Commission, which consists ..of Messrs R. E. Price (chairman). J Roberts and J. McLeod. The workers will be paid their ordinary rates, en an hourly basis, but there will also be paid a bonus dependent on the time occupied in working a particular ship. This will be calculated on a per-ton basis. A • saving in time of 25 per cent, to 30. per cent, has been achieved in other ports where the scheme is in operation, and it has been found that the new method has had the effect of givin? the employees a renewed interest in their work.