WHARF ONCE MORE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2017, 26 March 1914, Page 5

WHARF ONCE MORE.

WORK & FACTIONS.

PERMANENT STAFF PROPOSAL.

THE LOYAL MEN,

MOTION TO HELP. THEM* DEFEATED,

Ihe whole of the- oni.p'lovwont of labour mi tbo Wntei'froui wis raised again at- tbo meeting of the Harbonr Hoard fast night, when .a doptttation i'rem easiial workers was received, nud several im)ti«Bß sta.itdiiig oil tho order paper wore eoiteiclered. Tho -sic. putation, li'Qin tissual cniploye® wasfirst b-ard. It adrocaiefl a scheme for tb'.v formation or ail association,' 'or union, of Haibou;' Board casual empmyeos, i'\ Gurtice, who hoaded tho deputation, said that it w.as iho outeonio of a meeting held last week. Things Wefts not good on tbo wharves, and tho legitimate eiiijiloyees on. .tbo waterfront, «'io got their whole livelihood from, tbo wharves, felt they should have somo union of their own, apart from tho big union of wntersiders. It would bo to tho interest of tbo hoard, 4)i'd the old aiid iio\v hands, that .sucli a xinicrii siiDiutl. bo fdriiicd. Mr. Manstiekl, another meniher of the deputation., said tbnt, if- they had &■ iiiiioii under tho Harbour' 'Board,, tbo majority would mutually agree and work ■together; Mr. Hill pointed out that prac.tiea.llv ■nil tho now hands <m tho whal vos were unanimous iu their dosiro for i\' unipii; ... ? l >p tbo means of doing .away iVl'tfi a trc!!ie.udpus lot of frict ion between tlis ii.o«* hands mid tbo old. I' l T r-Ppiy to Mr. A, li. Hiutimarsh, M.i\ Hil-1 stated that he a, new' haiid. The whole body of moil on tho wharves svero_ practically .dissatisfied. the way hi which the executive of tho AYa'terSi'ders' Lnioii w r as carrvinp;.. o.ii, * . A Scparato Union. II! replj to Mr. Cohen, mombers of tlsc deputatiott ..said the desire was to form a Jie-.v union, apart from the «m----tro'l of any largo oiganisation. They iinderstood that such a union could bo formed. There were nb.otvt 250 men who looked to tiio Harbour Board entiroJy for their living, and it was for those* men il.iafc.jlto uiiioii liropftsed te : cater. It would exclude men who went from on© jot* to another. Whether a tioso corporation could be ■ loimcd was the subject of discussion for a time. Mr. Curtico said that they objected to the ttay in which the proierenco clause was used at present. Mr. A. M'Farlano: You aro asking for a preference union for 250 men. '.■« ilr. Curtice: No., we aro oslsing for s tiio formation of a union. All tho moit ; krojiiiig entirely to the board wiif.jqiji. '. Sir. A. 11. liiiidmaTsh submtitcdi .tlia't' ■' n principle was being put- forward.Other matters were matters of detail. Mr. K. A. Wright: Would thero bo to prevent -such a union affiliating wttii any outside union ? iMi. Curtice: I cannot ans.wcr the question. If tho board decides to form tbo union, w.o would lia-vo to call a mooting to consider details. ....... Tho chairman (Mr. R. Flctchoi;) said thai afc tbo present tjijio tboro \Wre., threo sections—coal workers, cargo wo.rkc.ps, ■and' Harbour Board ...men—and j tlm Harbour Board 'ira-.d 7 '"'feSecii" swamped." All ho could 'say was thaf. iu> svaS pleased thut t-lio new men. had conm to tho meeting and spoken in tbo manner they li.ad. It would lead fe;; better work by tho men who looked to the board for all their omployinent. 110 thought that he could say that- some.-: thing better was in view for such, workers. ■■ Mi\ Gilmour -said that beforo tho deputation left ho desired to express.. thanks Io Messrs, Prohyii and Cleunie, tuo foremen on tbo wharves, for tbo manner in which they carried out tbc.ir duties. ' All tho members of tho deputation would endorse his remarks. ; When tiio deputation withdrew, Mr. .Fletcher said that ho thought that tho best thing would be to havo concrete proposals from tho men placed beforo it, committeo. Tho board required -moro than 250 men to carry out their work,". but, by adopting such a scheme, the. good men from tho. now and thojjld ! ffnnfls Vvould join. It, would bo a good thing foT tbo board. ' -v . Mr. Hindmarsh said that ho under-' stood, in regard to preference, that the board had been employing certain itien ' when tlto Work w*as there. All that, tiio men no-vf asked Was that, :sucli. pre-. ference men shouki form a union. It was not- a form of oxelusivo preference.; The matter was left- over tbr further discussion wJien motions dealing wiiii tho question. Were to bo considered, j

perManents. MR. at, COHEN s~PROPOSALS. Later Mr. M. Cohen moved: '.'That iiio recent happenings ill connection with iiio waterside. labour, together with : tlio apparent unrest .still existing, lenders li'ecessary a- coiiipleto. eliango of method and svstm .in. the hoard's working of the port of Wellington. With tlio view of establishing a better state of things, mid reriioviiig, for tiw greater part, those factors which inal;e for the imsa:ti.sfo.etflT,v conditions which are nf- ' leged to exist, the iioard take into cmi* sidoratioii tlio following suggestions (a) "That a sub-committee of the hoard bo set vip to go into the question of creating ij ;pefniaiierit bodj' of waterside labourers. (b) "That such body si-fall bo limited to swell number as represents tlio average daily labour requi.tenien.ts of tlio board. (c) ''That, the Workers shall be guaranteed a reasonable'' .minimum , woijo per week., but shall ,be av&il&ble for all or any site!), work on flic wharves or. ships as. tlio board may from tunier to lime difeet. But, HOfewithsiaiiding tlio minimum wagx?., but not iii addition thereto, the workers are to bo paid such sum per hour as fs : , in vogue from tinio to time for tho iiumber of hours worked. ■(d) "That the permanent. workers, when constituted, will bo granted privilege of a superannuation ■ scheme based upon proper actuarial calculations, and permanence of omjilo-yhveisi during gootl be- ; haviour and eibi leiiev, and subject to tlio right of appeal, as is now' the ease with ■ the board's permanent employees." * "Sitting on a Voloano." Mr. Cohen .said that ho had been heartened by tlio deputation, lief erring to tlift present conditions lie had coino to the. deiinite conclusion that any. measure io bettor conditions would have to ■be more or le:ss revolutionary to tile extent that they would have to wipe the ground floor clean before they attenipled to build a structure in place of tho system which had been I .found so inadequate. Whilst ihev might (tatter themselves that tho condilions .011 tho wharves wore gradually a'ssitniing the norma], lie. £ould Wit : lrel.j> fueling that, al:l the- time, t'lioy we.ro .sitting upon a volcano. With regard to his proposals., there had been some objection to tin; term "minimum w-age." He wovild ask lo amend his' proposal by the wtjisiiiuiio.n of the- w&WI'S "guar* aisteed wage," if they were going t<r be commit, red to an exti-a expenditure of one or two thousands, was it no!, hei-. tor It) pay tJja-t. and so do away with iiKlus.tri.al fl.pltcavais ? The extrrt £2000 was without I he bouiids of probabilit l :,

biit tlw btts'iji'ass .pfiq'pte, lio felt, would sooner subscribe ton tiutts -that a.nroU.iif item have. a nicintcnee of i'lio 'recent Ui)ii"ava!s. li' }.li< v had a solid body 0) men, it wofuJd bis sr. tivoiceti;>;i io the ban-rd, and would lie- nit indication to Mm st'oiling CRSUiiJ-s that llicv wc.ru lifts' \Villlt-G(h iVlfd ROlild go SQnioft'bpi'o <3'lSo, 'J bey i.ouM not .force tho ..alupjii'njj Mi-iv-pnnios io full into .line, bi'ii jits was confident that. titey w<.u!d onlv ijc« too jviad to cniuc into i.iun wlieit tfc.y saw tiio results. Tim bnMfits to tins men would 1)0 i; guaranteed employment, -and' I.ny iVls.o .proposed a supi-raliiauiiifltv fljwtoe, and a board of. appeal. $ iieus'iiig. scheme might also tjo considered, anil all would ie.srd to better coi'ufifipiig. Tim 'ioard would gain a. b« ttot- body of worJwrs, a.ii.d a hiifficf would 'bo j.n'omcfr <'d against i-ltc body of malcontents outt side.. ■> Sir. Cohen went oil to isfry t;ba : ti bit bad not der.lt w itli. tiic financial side of tliO ijtoposji.fi for ho suggested. that.. a siiii-coiuniitiw siioidd .bo set tip to con-' sid.ti-r■ tho- lyhofo «ehemft. lie moved that tbo following -committee sltotdd bo sirj lip to consider bis motion >—Messrs.; KloteliM, .Idni's, Wright, Itindinarshy Bauidl, M'towau, and the nweiv Something Must bo Dona. Mr, 1):. A., Wright) said that lio. bad' groat pleasure in seconding tbo pro.p&sal, _ .'i'iiey all agreed that it was essential that something must bo donu (oven if febst/itiorfi" hioiiuf) to preve.iiU a recurl'cncu of tbo industrial upheaval of last yoni\ ]j<y-' did hot think, with, the : present system of employing labour, that they would ever bo eert-aiii.; of averting trouble. Even tho pcliojuo< SAiggjisied ' by■ tbo deputation did noul sol\o the problem. Mr. Cohen's scheme,,' by thought., wo ii Id- Jjriirg about, flic do-', sired object. ' Mr.. J. Trevor thought thai, o.ven : al*'i .1 hough they, had a, permanent body would: be. just as liable to : -)iave.'' ■i not heard anything to-, induce hmi to 'vote for the .proposal, 5 i , M^/Hiridmjjiisb::., is an .old.' saying, 'Wo should not.inept troubles iiall way.' Thero is no harih in setting' up tho.eoinmitteo."' Tbo remainder of tho discussion wrb .niaiuly- '.fu' -tho ! '!a'froctii^il/:pf\;' : fpfttuiisv-'An ",?i proposal go. to ■ tho committee,■ most ,o$V. the mciiibeis favouring this stop, r „

What tlio Chairman Wanted,' Mr. Fletcher said that fiio question. was full of difficulties, 110 would havisf preferred that the. committco should .bo; a committee of the wliolo lio.lrd. . At jlioip conference with tlio Prime -Minister h<s| ; .had 'suggested that legislation suould Iju . frameil to enable the hoard to laky over*.; • . :■ the whole of the work on tho. wharves. If that had been, done the throoseetion.B -"Cargo workers, coal workers, and « . batir Board inen—woitid jiavts been uuder\. : J •tho supervision ot (ho board. Thc'n a,; siu(t of 000 or 800 men could have beeiK/. . ; appointed. ~All. the shipping men,;. ]iow-i •' over, wcte Agajiijft tho fjro'p'osal; present, proposn I was a step <inthe> right ' direction, but to effect ivoly ideal with this" ■ question they would have to control, alii .. sections. If they could go.t legislativo authonty to do so, it would go a long : way towards-niwlerating tlie diiliculty ;<hv ; '' •all waterfronts. ..The. cost, should jbff;:/?? borne, pro rata, by all the ' coiieerhir' which benefited. ■ ■'M-'A-- " The committeo as named, was clcctud: i: HOUSING, . \ fl ,: FOR MARRIED CASUAL MEN. Mr. <L G. Cobbo moved: "That a suW poniniitteo of .tlio board bcEct ;ui> to ■■ quiro ititd a net report oft tlio. f eil si fi ili.iSjf ;<if a scheme. jrtcp'arod for tins settlement .; of iho married men belonging to tho •■■■? board's casual workers, on land easily . .V\ acccssible, by rail or othirw.isej id the '■'* pity ; such sphnnie to. iiialco prfly istoij Jojj/. ft rental sufi'icieftt tg provide for interest,. depreciation of l..uildings ; and sinking fund." 110 thought by tiiis means th'\y could go far towards removing seething ' linrost and discontent, 110 suggested that Parliamentary permission, should he':p secured to raise a sum of money suffi- • cicnt to. purchaso nOO or GOO acjt-s llat land, and to erect ofiO fivo-roomed..-.. ■cottages. If they were going to consider a schenvo to employ, say, 75i.S |ier- jjiii maiicnt they could bo assured' iiiat 500 of these would be married. P could h(v. a condition, of enrolment, on .5?; ; tlio board's register that tlio men- should i-esido in tlio cottages erected. If land cost £80 an aero, and iho houses ; £'370 each, they could bo lot at a much losver than the present, rates, :aiS}-i the men would bo dqeently housed. • •••• Mr. 51 'Ewaii soconclctl the motion, and the feilowipg committee was set up:— ... Messrs. Fletcher., Trevor, Vriglijt t .M'Ew.aiii Daniel!, and the mover. PREFERENCE. MR. 11. Ti. NATHAN'S PROPOSALS. Mr. 11. L. Nathan moved:—"That tho resolution passed on December 17, 1!>13. to tho clfect, viz.: 'That ali. casual. J : wharf labourers who have joined the. % now Arbitration Union on or before . . December S, 1913, ami. who have worked ; for. tho .board, shall continue to bo of-. ; forcd' preference, of employmeiiS .after'. ; t-lio -strike is over, if, jn tlio opinion .of t liiv wharfinger, and labour foreman,' .they ■ aro satisfactory workers and of g<k)d- • characte,". And that all additional \yharf labourers put oh from this daurniust. produce, evidence tliat. tlvey aro members of the Arbitration Union aiid of good character,' be- r.('sciiul«l f and; in . liei; ; : thereof •tho tollowiii!; lie substituted • . ■" 'That the board's labour 'fprtf-';l;i/V man lm. ilistnicteil thai all niembefs : of tho. Waterside Workers' . who joiiieil the union before ber i), l ; i!la, niust bo given prefcr-.v : ; ' 'eilco of flinploynicnt,' if, in ; thos> opinion of the %liat®igor;a)jii;iSbouK,;.3 foreman, thojv- aro of good charac- .' ■ tor and satisfactory workers,.even . ..though rhoy .did not actually work . for the hoard before December S), 1913. And.that all additional wliarf labourers employed from this dato' .%g, nienibers .of the .Arbitration ' . Union. 1 " '' Jlr. Nathan.cxplaiiK'd that 'he object ~i of his motion was to. roctjfy' any 'i.iii..'v : Z fairness to tlio Ar.bilratlonists; ; .Mr. seconded tire ■■jifo?; iKisal. ; .... ■ 1 . Jlr. Hiirdmarsli. opposed the rosoht<' • • ■tioii. ■ "

T!io Board-Faithful. : " Mr. l'lctcher tifep opposed tlio.'motion. Tile resolution passed .by the board on' December ]7, he said, had boon carried; trouble; took placc ■;/ on tbo ships -done Tho shipping comI panics were .desirous of being relieved p of tlieir responsibility,' pud tliey bad not , employed their quota of mon'. It- was not lair, because the Uarlwur Hoard . \vas a public body, that they should.' have to shoulder tins responsibility. I J\lr. Wright pointed out. that, it .was :n fact tlwi there were a number of mon who came down .it the b%.inivilig' [ of the trouble, mid the board puaran- . ! teed that* tlics<> men should receive pre- ' I fpretice. . A number ef them were iiot employed nric.r to December 0 by tho. • board, .mil now, wlion tliey eanie to > apply for work, they were rcfhsct]. Sir. M'Ewan thought that; in view of tin? representations made to ' thorn, ■that night, Mr. Nathan .should withdraw his' motion. \\y Mr. Xathn.ii said ho could .not see his way to withdraw it; . The shi.pnilHT companies, ho assured them, had do-in ' just, as mueli as the Harbour Hoard in owmnfi out ■tlio resolntiion : iiasseil ;b'y. the board. ' ' Mr. Nathan's. resolution was lost, by 8 voles to ."i Mossis. Nathan, Tievor, Wriulil-. Macfarlaiie, and Kennedy voted for '.lie motion. „ j\ uiot.'ioti was then carried that fbo . deputation which waited oil the bciard". should put forward concroto pixiiiosaW • for coiTSfdcrStiaji 'at test mootinc.' '. .