Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coaltrimmers' Union . . .

Question I. - Is the lading and unlading of your port conducted by employing stevedores, or by the Shipping Companies, or by anything of the nature of a Harbour Board?

Answer I. - The bulk of the lading and unlading at this Port (which includes Cardiff, Penarth, and Barry) is done by the Great Western Railway Company, the Cardiff Railway Company, the Taff Vale Railway Company, and the Barry Railway Company.

Explanatory Note I. - I mean by this that the machinery both for lading and unlading and the men who manipulate it belong to those companies. The men, however, who work in the holds of vessels, either stowing or discharging cargoes, and those who deal with discharged cargoes on shore, are engaged by the various companies or persons to whom the cargoes belong or are consigned. These men are mostly casually employed, and are either paid by the day, the job, or by the ton.

Question II. - What is the system of taking on labour, and for what periods are the men engaged?

Answer II. - The men who work for the above are employed more or less permanently, and are paid for the most part by the ton.

Question III. - What are the ordinary and overtime wages? At what hour does overtime commence? When are they paid?

Question IIIa. - Is there anything peculiar in the trade of your port that makes overtime inevitable?

Answers III and IIIa. - Speaking generally, the work is carried on by day and night shifts, and in consequence of the work being continuous, there is not much overtime paid for.

Explanatory Note IIIa. - As regards timber cargoes and the handling of general merchandise, the work not being continuous on those, overtime is worked and paid for after 5 p.m. at the rate of time and a quarter.

Question 1V. - Is there much specialisation of labour?