POSITION AT THE WHARVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 8

POSITION AT THE WHARVES.

SITPEKVISION MAINTAINED.

The chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr J. H. Gunson), when seen this morning by a representative of the "Auckland Star," said the announcement that the Federated Seamen's Union and the employers had arranged upon a mutually acceptable agreement, by means of which a satisfactory settlement had been brought about of the unfortunate position of the last six weeks, would naturally be generally welcomed by tbe community at large, notwithstanding the fact that the back of the trouble had long since been broken, and conditions were fast assuming a normal state. At the same time, it was a matter for general congratulation that the settlement arrived at would do away with any further inconvenience and hindrance of trade passing in and out of the port, of which there must necessarily have been some remaining if a general settlement had not been arrived at. As far as the local position is concerned, the Harbonr Board will not relax its supervision of the wharves until the New Year at any rate, but every precaution will be taken to see that no inconvenience is caused to those having business on the wharves or any hindrance placed upon shipping. In fact, every facility will be provided for tbe satisfactory conduct of business of the port, although strict supervision wiU be kept over the wharves, and the system of admission will still be by ticket, as has been the practice, since the trouble ben-an. As far as the Board is concerned, the interests of the Waterside Workers' Union do not come within its province, although it has naturally a very great interest in the waterfront and its own workers, port' ularly those who stood to it throughout the trouble, and many of those who returned to work soon afterwards. These will be given every due consideration. "'I would like to say." added Mr Gunson. "that it is absolutely impossible for the Board to consider the large number of requests that have been received for employment latterly. I have had some hundreds already, and can only regret that it is utterly impossible for" the Board to deal with them. The Board has done its best under the circumstances, and will continue to do so in the future, but it is impossible to provide employment for all those seeking work."