WHARF PREFERENCE LIST

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2162, 30 May 1914, Page 6

WHARF PREFERENCE LIST

REJOINDER TO MR. CONNELL. During the past week, Mr. W., M. Connell, acting-sec rotary of the Wharf Labourers' Union, made a statement criticising the published announcement concerning the number of men who claimed preference in .engagement for work on the wharves. His remarks were referred'by a reporter to Mr. E. H. Dodd (secretary of tho Employers' Inquiry Committee), who made the following comment on it: — "With regard to the statement made by Mr. Connell that tho executive of tbo Wharf Labourers' Union did not recognise preference, it is fully understood that that is tho correct attitude for them as an executive to take up, but as tho employers havo given a pledge of preference to every man who is a competont workor, and who joined the union prior to. December 9, 1913, it is tho duty of tlio employers to soa that they get it. It must be obvious that the men who havo registered wish to have this preference. Whether theso men are financial or not is entirely a matter for the union officials. So long, however, as a man can produce evidenco showing that ho joined before the date mentioned, he must be added to the list, irrespective of whether ho has paid his union feo or not. Mr. Connell statedthat he has only had 50 applications for certificates showing the; date of joining his union, but he< must surely I'know that most of tho men have either a card or a book of membership giving that information, and it is only when such cannot bo produced that a preference man will ask for a certificate." Mr.- Dodd also pointed out that he did not represent "certain employers," as mentioned by Mr. Connell. He was the executive officer -of a committee representing the whole of the employers of labour on tho. waterfront. So far 400 havo availed themselves of the opportunity to enrol as preference men. Tho preference register mil close definitely at 6 o'clock to-night.