Future

The recently established "Port Operations Committees", comprising representatives of all interests concerned with port operations and administration, will offer future opportunities for the unions and their members to consider the means of overcoming any expected congestion, or delay of cargoes, in the ports.

Another factor which augers well for a more positive approach towards streamlining is the recent appointment of the president of the Federation of Labour, Mr. T. E. Skinner, to the "Exports and Shipping Council" which has been established to implement the streamlining committee's recommendations.

Although the present outlook is rather gloomy there is every reason to believe that the difficult task of streamlining the New Zealand ports can be carried out. At the moment there is a dire need for improved port facilities, stricter supervision of labour, and progressive management. In Wellington, unless some satisfactory position is reached regarding the availability of labour, there is a strong possibility that it will be necessary to divert some ships and cargoes to other ports. There is a need for improvement in relations between the Harbour Board, Port Employers' Association, and the Union—at the moment any proposals to introduce automation which will reduce the size of gangs is counteracted by the union, even if it has been previously complaining about the lack of labour.

Much of the success of the streamlining will depend on the willingness of the employers to raise the basic wage rate for the 40-hour week. This will have to be carried out conjointly with introduction of shift work and the tightening of labour control.

If the waterfront, of major importance in New Zealand's economy, is going to operate efficiently it must have both good management and efficient staff. The only way this staff will be obtained is by increasing the wages, shortening the hours, and exercising a more stringent control over the employees.