ON THE WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 495, 30 April 1909, Page 5

ON THE WHARF.

alleged unfair c]::?:;:::*;;:!. discussion by ha^:::;;•;: / ; HOW 'fOUDEUS". JUV:!;v d:hM:X,-\-.. ' , Some of tho expressmen ..;-■.- <..;,..•>.*/' songers' luggage to, and, fro;;i' t;;e. 'iit.u:ii.rt at tho wharves contend that tiiey, are sub-, jected to a species of highly unfair compoti- . tion. Tho matter.'was brought up by Mr, . Fletcher, at yesterday's meeting of the Harbour Board, whon, ; as tho result of a question asked by huh, tho secretary stated that a certain'firm had written inquiring whj somo expressmen obtained much more busi< noss on the wharf than others. '■■•'■'•■•" > Mr. Fletcher said he understood that, som« ■■••' of the expressmen had a monopoly of business at tho wharves, and that they had. I. custom ■of getting stewards, or other per* \\ sons, to send them bogus telegrams, asking!: / them to incet .certain boats. Armed withV these telegrams, thoy obtained admission to tho wharves (whilo others wore kepi out) : and plied their .calling.- '. •. ■■''''■'■" Mr. 0. W. Jones said that Mr. Fletchci rVtv bad made seriousallcgations which reflected ' '. upon: tho stewards on board the steamers. ,•■:'_ < Ho thought any such "complaint Bhould haw •■ V . been, in tho first instance, to the l Union Steamship Company, 'or to himself. (Mr.' ,'■ i Jones is the Wellington Manager of th« Huddart-Parker Company,) As Mr. Fletchci'' ■'■; [ had now brought the matter up at the board . mooting, ho hoped that, full inquiry would . , be made.' ■■'■.:.'■'.'''"■ '.■./■ .'■> '• ■ '■■■'/ '■'■"{■ -"'..v.. ; i Tho chairman (Mr.:T. MY Wilford). SaM ;; the matter had been before the board, twice '■'■■■■■! \; before within his recollection',: r and"now, I ■'•',;;: when Mr. Fletcher'.. again montiouod he ; had at once sent for a:report presented'by /i 'l'-". the Chief Tolls , Work to, tho order, of tha ' board on; a formor occasion in the year 1908.', This report, he' said; '. showed that there wa* 1 : ' a remarkablo disparity in tho, number; ol N ' engagements received by different express- . men on tbo wharves. Ho read tho futures. r : which covered a period of twelve monthsanfl .;. ' related to 116 expressmen, 'showing thai; while tho great majority had received from 7 ono'to eight or nine engagements each,''a few had nad upwards of 100, and one, or - two upwards of'2oo. The: report went.on : to i particularise, stating that these ; meD ; .-;[. made a speciality of meeting the boats.' On« ;.; ]; did a large business; with racing, football, :■:■ and athletic people. Another did most of ! -'\ the carrying for Fullers', whoso people wore *. ' constantly coming andgoing. A third was ; r specially popular, with' the horse-racing ,fra-' tornity. Six others'; wero connected with , different,firms or bodies, and another ditt , most'of the' carrving for Government House' .A and the Ministers oi the Crown. Particulars , wero in allcasos entered up showing tho .-,.'. names of passengers 'and tho names and ad- •..;■ drosses of the employers, and the book was ;.u open to inspection by members of tho Carriers' Union, who'frequently examined it.; •';■'. ■Tho Chairman went'on'to say that tho difficulty was to get oyer tho possibility of , . improper practices: Ho was not going to ! say that bogus telegrams wore sent,'but: a smart man could easily arrange such ; ; a ■'. '.''-'•Mr,'.' Jones:' Mr.;^Fletcher has• 'made'fla;.; ...Mr. Flotcherrl ; said I\ understood.;|hat,/V , the thing was: done. ,!,':;:", ,\. '.. : v""',- ■''i' ■' The Chairman,,, continuing, .said that bo-y, ■ > ; . fore ah" expressman 'cduH go'on, to the wharf,,hohad to produoo a letter or; tele-, y gram of engagement, and this had to be ac-: ■; cepted by tho board's officers and filed.. Ho : 1 did not know what bettor schemo could bo • arranged. Unfortunately; it could not, bo; ~ • denied that if ii'carrier had.an energetic ,; I man;in league;with himj.it would pay him ■ 1 to givo bira; a commission and spend money, ion the'tolegramß. '..': .'•■ .. :• .' : .' i"' ':-, Mr. Fletcher: Or to, have , a • resident Mr.'J. 6. Harkness said tho thing to ,bo - : proved was that;,telegrams were sent■■;'. by ,;' other than passengers.. • ■-" ~,! ~ , .' Mr. Wilford: And wo havo no proof of i '-'■■ v ; '.'- ~; . [ '." !'■' ' Mr. Harkness: None at a11.,:•'.;."•,.,:■,., : ■■ i : Mr; Fletcher was rising-to speak when ,' the chairman pointed out that ho had; alt ready spoken, and asked whether, ho; had ; been misrepresented. .. - , Mr.'Fletcher: Not more than common.. ■■',■■ Mr. C.'E. Daniell: I protest against that " remark:/It is a slight upon monibors of tho . The Chairman: I noticed that Mr. Flot- .'_.'. cher smiled when ho spoke, so I took no notice.;:'■'■■,■:.■■ ■~-:,, V,. ';: '<--it 1 Mr.- Daniell: Ho should,;,' not uso _such 1 words, even' though ho does smile. v_ Ho is , too smart.";' ;.,';,.'■. '' • ■''■ ''-' ■' ~-.. j- '• ' 3 The matter'then dropped i-r.