WHARF EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 311, 25 September 1908, Page 8

WHARF EMPLOYEES

PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN APPEAL COMMITTEE. LIVELY DEBATE EVOKED. . ALLEGED STRAINED RELATIONS DENIED. A proposal in favour of tho establishment of an Appeal Committee gave rise to a heated debate at yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Harbour Board. Briefly, tho resolution was to the effect that the committee should consist of tho secretary, harbourmaster, wharfinger, engineer, and one member of tho staff, elected by the permanent employees. It was proposed to invest it with power to investigate and deal with all complaints laid before it by or 011 behalf of any of tho omployees. No employee should, it proceeded, be dismissed until his case had been considered by the Appeal' Committee, who should report and forward its recommendation to the Wharves and Quays Committee for decision. At the outset Mr. Macdonald asked whether the resolution could be dealt with. The chairman ruled that thero was a right to review the matter.- " EMPLOYEES HAD NOT A PAIR CHANCE." Mr.' Fletcher, who was the, mover of the resolution, said that that was the second occasion on which he had brought up tho matter. It was strange that on the previous occasion, when Mr. Macdonald was the chairman, the motion was accepted.. As the board was, in his opinion, more liberal in its constitution than its predecessor, lie felt that his proposals would. now be adopted. The board employed-300 permanent and over 400 casual employees. He had brought forward the motion as much in the interests of the board as in tliose of the employees. Under the present system employees had not a fair chance of ventilating' their grievances. In consequence the relationship between officers and other employees was far from what it ought to be. Similar boards had been established in connection with public departments and by largo firms all over the world.

Mr. M'Ewan, who seconded the motion, said if tho employees did not at' present receive justice in connection with grievances it was,high timo the matter was remedied. Tho chairman denied that fclie men had been treated in a way that would not bo tolerated by a private lirm, also that tho men had no hope of getting grievances re-' medied. Further, he did not admit the relationships between the. board and the men were strained. On tho contrary, since he had been chairman he had found ample evidence to the opposite effect. If tho motion were carried it would be equivalent'to a vote of 110 confidence in the .Wharves and Accounts Committee. He objected to any system which allowed employees to' appeal to a committee of employees and not to their employers, the board. Under the presentsystem complaints received every attention. POSTPONEMENT URGED... Mr. Macdonald said if the facts were supported, the board's sympathy should be evoked' .He therefore suggested- that the motion bo postponed for a month in order that further. inquiries-might ,bo made. Tho. discussion would enablo anyone with a oomplaint to go to the chairman, and if -any officer of tho board troated another with discourtesy he should bo dismissed. ' Mr. Jones saw no reason for delaying the matter. '• Miv Harkness suggested that tho mover had overstated tho case. ■Mr. • Fletcher: No. Sir. Harkness agreed that tho motion was equal to one of want of confidence in tho board. Suoh a committee would be subversive of all discipline.. At present, complaints received full consideration. Mr. Fletcher, in reply, said that-if ho were allowed to call evidenco- in. support of what ho had said with respect to strained relations existing between .. officers and other employees, ho was quite sure every, member of tho board would vote :in .favour of tho motion.. :

The Chairman: Evidonco could have been brought at any time. : ;

Mr. Fletcher: You know a man is not going. to get himself,into trouble through speaking to the chairman of' tho board. Tho Chairman: None of the men are surely afraid to voice their complaints? Mr. Fletcher: That is my. opinion; ' Tlio Chairman: The Wharves and Quays Committee is always prepared to do what' is right. Mr. Fletcher: I am, not casting any reflection on the committeo, or on the board.

"SOME MEMBERS KNEW VERY LITTLE." Continuing, Mr. Fletcher said that the proposed Appeal Committee would .be able to deal with complaint? • much better than a committee of the board. Some .members knew very little about the conditions of service under the board. Members; Oh! Mr. Fletcher: I repeat that some, so to spoak, hardly know one end of the wharf from tho other. • A Member: That is a very rash statement. Another Member: It is similar to others that he'has made. Tho Chairman: Supposing the committeewas set up and a worker brought forward a complaint. Tho wharfinger might • take one side and tho -engineer might hold an opposite view. There might be a heated controversy, and immediately afterwards the en-' gineor' might have to supervise work being done under the wharfinger. Strife-might very easily be stirred up if tho. Appeal Court wero established. Mr. Fletcher: I intend to bring forward this motion as. of ten as the board will allow ■ma until it is carried. .Employees, would bo willing to give evidence if they, received an assurance that statements made by them would not reflect injuriously on them. If tho assurance were given 1 could get the whole staff to give evidence. Mr. Harkness moved as an amendment "That further consideration of the motion be postponed until the November sittings of tho board." ■ This was seconded by Mr. Fraser, and carried. ' ' Mr. Macdonald then moved, "That Mr. Fletcher be asked to bring before the Wharves and Accounts Committee the evidence in support, of . his statements and furnish the names of the officers concerned." The chairman seconded the motion, and said he was prepared to .devote an afternoon to hear any complaints ; The motion, was,carried.