WATERFRONT WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 7

WATERFRONT WORK.

DISSENSION IN UNI GIL "HOYAiLS" VERSUS THE REST 3 FAIRER DISTRIBUTION WANTED. Increasing competition amongst the watersiders for the little work that is available is causing considerable bitterness between the generality of the men and the "royals"-—those men who are siven the greater part of the work. ""Whenever the question of sharing the work amongst all members of the union has arisen it has been bitterly opposed bv the 'royals'," said the members ot the deputation that visited the "Star ' this morning. "The men who are chosen for jobs whenever they like to stand up do not want any distribution of work—it is distributed very much to their liking under the present system.'' Those who have been asking for a fair division claim that they are the large majority of the members, and that their number is steadily increasing as conditions become more rigorous. At recent meetings of the union they have attempted to pass a motion in favour of equal distribution or work, but up to the present nothing definite has been achieved. The vote at a stop-work meeting held last Tuesday week was, the deputation stated, almost unanimously in favour of a system of distributing work. Some of the" "royals," however, protested that they had not attended the meeting, and said they would not abide by the vote taken. At their demand the question was again raised at last Tuesdays meeting, and a vote taken on the setting up of a committee to formulate a scheme under which work would be evenly distributed. The supporters of the scheme claimed a three-to-two majority on the show of hands, but the opponents demanded that a count be taken. When the returning officer attempted this he was hustled out of the room and down the stairs. Meanwhile many of the watersiders are on relief works under suburban local bodies, and others have been forced to obtain charitable aid from the Hospital Board. Under the unemployment scheme No. 5 it was proposed that the Auckland Harbour Board undertake relief works on a similar basis to other local bodies, for the relief of waterside workers and other casual labourers. That scheme is still under consideration by the Unemployment Board, but the watersiders have already passed a motion disapproving of it. Those who are now unable to obtain work stated that when the scheme was first mooted they maintained that it would be far better for the members of the union to assist one another by dividing what work was available rather than to take employment under a relief scheme, and this is still their opinion. If the "royals" continue to monopolise the work, however, they intend to ask the Unemployment Board and the Harbour Board to put the proposed scheme of relief work into operation as soon as possible.