WORK ON WHARF

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20737, 22 February 1939, Page 8

WORK ON WHARF

MINISTER’S STATEMENT POSITION UNSATISFACTORY CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday Determine.! that efficiency must take the place of "the inefficiency J which, unfortunately, prevails in many ' New Zealand ports," the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, intends to convene, at the earliest and most ; convenient moment, a national conference be tween shipowners and the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union. All phases of waterfront work will be discussed at the conference, by which the Minister hopes to avoid the necessity of a Commission of Inquiry. if it is unsuccessful, however, the Government was determined to , take what additional steps it con- 1 sidered necessary. Methods of Stevedoring The announcement of his decision was made by Mr Webb at lunch hour i yesterday when he addressed a gatherinpr of Auckland watersiders. lie. Pointed out that an enormous amount of criticism was being levelled against the wharf workers’ organisations and | that much of the cost was said to he | traceable to the methods of stevoj during—cargo consigned to Wclling- ! ton being loaded on the top of ships’ 1 holds and had to be removed in order to unload the Auckland cargo and then put back in the ship again. "I told yesterday's meeting that if this sort of thing was happening the sooner that state of affairs came to an end the better and. that it was my intention to convene a national conference for the purpose of discussing the whole question of work on the waterfronts of the Dominion. Opposition from Government “I explained that anyone loafing on any job could count on 100 per cent, opposition from the Government, and ' if a few men imagined they could up- | set the whole working of the wateri front, or any other industry, a rude | awakening was in store for them, i Many instances of lack of discipline i have been brought under my notice ! and l am convinced that nothing short j of a searching inquiry will meet the j case. The present dissatisfaction j must stop,” he concluded..