CARGO WORKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 5

CARGO WORKING

CASE OF THE LOCH DON. AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS REPLY TO CRITICISM. (By Telegraph—Press Assoclaxion.) AUCKLAND, March 7. Complaints concerning the working of the British steamer Loch Don at Auckland expressed by the master, Captain Beaten, in a cable message from Sydney, were replied to by the press committee of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union today. The master of the ship stated that undue time was taken, in the discharge of lumber from Vancouver while the steamer was in port at Auckland. . “When officials visited the ship, stated the union# “it was found that heavy logs were stowed aft while sawn timber was in the forward hatches. The logs had to be dumped over the rail, and it was then found that the sawn timber had been loaded so as to project above the rails. The custom was allowed on ships leaving American ports, but not on those from British ports. This timber had to be cleared to allow the winches to be worked properly. “It was then found that certain parts of the Loch Don’s cargo gear had to be replaced. At the time there was great congestion in the port and the steamer was berthed at the Western Wharf, and this factor, together with the bad stowing and faulty gear, made for delay. In any case, Captain Beaten had the opportunity of using the two wharf cranes but refused to allow them to be used.” Commenting on the comparison made by the ship’s master on the rate of loading at Vancouver with the rate of discharge at Auckland, the union stated that the timber was loaded while working day and night at Vancouver. Contain Beaten did not allow overtime at Auckland and work ceased each day at 5 p.m. In conclusion the committee stated that the waterside workers wanted to co-operate in all matters on the waterfront. .