WHARF "CASUALS."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 2

WHARF "CASUALS."

* SYSTEM CRITICISED. MB. IIIXDMARSH'S TKOrOSALS. An interesting, if protracted, discussion took place at the meeting of the Harbour Board last evening, on a motion by Mr. A. 11. Uindmarsh as follows:—

"That the following be a remit to Iho Harbours Conference:—That tho conference ask Ihe Government to ameud fha Harbours Act so as to empower Harbour Boards to undertake . tho loading and discharging of ships." This was seconded, pro forma, by Mr, Fitzgerald.

Mr. Uindmarsh said ho found that in some ports of the world tho unloading and loading of vessels was undertaken by a single body or authority. If this could be done here, say, by a union or bv tho Harbour Board, it would bo a good 'thing for the exporters and importers, and for the men alto. Everyone must surely regret that a large number of men wore, employed as they were on the New Zealand wharves. They wore "demoralise and irrationalised" under tho system. It was not gocd for men to be rushed with work at ono time and Dion loft, without ™ at another, A system could be instituted to stop outsiders coming in at certain times to compete with those already here. It was said that the object in doing this was to keep big gangs about to cope with any sudden rush. His proposal would not affect wages, Iwcauso competition did not now affect wages in Now. Zealand—they were fixed by tho Arbitration Court. It was going to he made a political question in any case, and it would bo well for the board to take the ead. It would bo said that twelvehundred men with their families were in an unsatisfactory condition, and the board would not lift a finger to help them. Tho board could simply ask for extended power to employ labour, and fflien uso reason in the distribution of work, instead of leaving things to blind chance. Mr. J. ]•]. Fitzgerald said ho was seconding the motion out of courtesy to Mr. Hindmorsh, though ho disagreed witl much that the latter had said. Ho would liko to see tho matter—a very, important one—discussed by a tribunal more competent to deal with it, as was suggested in the resolution.

Cries pi' "Oh! Oh!" Mr. Fitzgerald: "Yes; a more competent tribunal! Some people think they are competent to deaf with every question." The people they would refer it to would bo competent to deal with it. There waa no doubt there was improvement necessary. The chairman (Mr. Fletcher) said that Mr. Hindmarsh. had not Riven sufficient icason for tho board to take responsibility for sending the vomit to the conference in their name. He pointed out that no alteration in the distribution of the work would take place under Mr. Hindmarsh's proposals. He knew what Mr. Hindmarsh was aiming at; and he would not accept tho responsibility of sending it up to the conference. If the board undertook tho control of tho work, it would not make any differenco whatever in the matter of employment. Mr. C. W. Jones: "I call it a mnd motion."

Mr. Hindmarsh: "I should expect that from you." Mr. Jones: "Thank you." Ho went on to explain why ho considered iho suggestion unworkable. Mr. Trevor suggested that the control of wharf labour might bo placed in tho hands of a. contractor. Mr. Hindmarsh: "I would not mind that—one contractor." Mr. Trevor: "Well, that surprises me, becaunse wo are told that contractors take all they can out of the men." Mr. Hindmarsh: "Wages are fixed by the Arbitration Court." Mr. Trevor: "Yes, but the best man would get the work every time, and, as a consequence, it would be worse than, it is at the presont time." It could not bo expected that in a contro liko this, where there was a largo influx of peoplo from the country, they should all get work. As a.consequence, thev all wont down to the wharf. Sometimes it was impossible to get enough outside labour. During (he past nine months it had boon difficult to get labourers in the building frado. .Many labourers preferred work on the wharf, because they could make as much on. broken timo u they could mako working full time outside. Mr. Hindmarsh had taken on too 'jlr. J°. Cobbo said that unless they'could bo shown that a more satisfactory system would bo substituted,, and that it would be to tho commercial benefit of the community, they should not accept responsibility for tho proposed remit. Mr. M'Ewan said there was a good deal of truth in tho mover's statement regal-d----ing tho men, and ho would support tlin motion on tho ground that it opened up a big, important subject for discussion. Mr. Hindmarsh said that all ho hart advanced was that some scheme, such as that proposed, would distribute tho work better. A single employer (such as tho board) would be more in touch with tho men individually, and would endeavom to s distribute work amongst those most requiring it. At present the thing waa done at haphazard. Tho motion was lost, Messrs. nindmarsn, Fitzgerald, and M'Ewan voting for it.