CARGO HANDLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 6

CARGO HANDLING

CONFERENCE OF EMPLOYERS & WORKERS MEETING IN WELLINGTON TOMORROW. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF LABOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A' conference convened by the Minister of Labour (the Hon P. C. Webb) of representatives of employers and workers, to discuss the alleged unsatisfactory conditions on the waterfront meets at Parliament Buildings tomorrow. “It is my earnest desire,” the Minister stated, “to bring about an improvement in the handling of cargo at various ports and to find out the reasons for the dissatisfaction that exists. It has been alleged that handling charges have considerably increased because of the slow methods adopted by the workers and that stoppages of work have occurred over trivial matters, also that a feeling of suspicion exists between the employers and workers. On the other hand, it has been stated that handling charges have been increased through lack of proper organisation at some of tn.e ports, such as a shortage of wagons, congestion of of goods in wharf sheds resulting in idleness of the gangs employed and also overstowed cargo necessitating an extra handling of goods. What truth there may be in these and other statements made it is desired to look into them and provide remedial measures. There is no doubt that -much good may result from a frank discussion of the position.” The organisations represented at the conference are the Waterside Industrial Asso.ciatjon of Employers, the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, the New Zealand Harbour Boards Association and the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union.