THE WATERFRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3003, 14 February 1917, Page 8

THE WATERFRONT

"VICTORIA" STILL DELAYED OTHER SHIPS WORKING CONCILIATION COURT . ADJOURNS Normal conditions were almost restored'on the wharves yesterday. Labour was accepted fnr all ships iu port, l)Ut the men still refused to work tao Victoria. The Disputes Committee lias held two meetings yesterday and Monday, discussing the case of this ship, but the meetings ended yesterday without a final decision. The union is to communicate again with the Napier Union, n*'iiich listed the ship "black," and some definite announcement as to what is to happen about the working of tho vessel should be made to-day. No announcement was made yesterday about any possible Government action to deal with the wharf trouble generally. Everything is said to be in readiness for quick action should tho Government decide to take control of thd wharves.

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. NO CONSIDERATION' OF '188 DISPUTE.

The Conciliation Council set up to investigate the dispute regarding 1 waterside labour held its first meeting yesterday morning. Tho meeting did rot achieve anything. It did not even begin to discuss the business it must deal with. There tvas a deal of questioning and' explaining of a number of matters, and then, when the time came for attacking the details of the dispute an adjournment was asked ior untu Monday next. This date was not available, and the earliest date possible was then agreed upon—Friday, February 23, at 7 p.m. _ The Commissioner (Mr. W. H. Hagger) presided. Tho assessors for the union were Messrs. L. Glover, J. G. Bruce, and H, Callag'nan, and for the employers Messra W. A. Flavell, J. M. Deck, and W. H. G. Bennett. Mr. W. Pryor appeared as agent ter tho employers. Representing other interested parties were present Mr. H. E. Nicliolls, secretary of tho Harbour Board, s,nd Mr. J. Flood, of Lyttelton,- vicepresident of the Waterside Workers Federation. These two gentlemen were present only as spectators. Mr. Hagger said ho understood that there was to be an application for an adjournment, and he asked the assessors whether any of them desired to make any statement. Mr. Glover said that lie and his colleagues were not familiar with the procedure before the Conciliation. • Commissioner, and they' had come to hear what the other side had to say. The Waterside Workers' Federation had put before the employers' terms which the workers were prepared, to accept, but tho employers, without considering them,, had referred the matter to tho Arbit.Vtion Court. If, the other side proposed terms that could be . accepted withoui much question, thero would bo 110 need" for adjournment so far as the union was concerned. If, on the other hand, the employers suggested radical alterations in tho terms submitted by the union, then ho might have to ask for an adjournment to enable the union assessors to prepare their case, l or to decide what they were propared to do.

Mr. Hagger suggested that the pro- x posals made by the employers (tho applicants in the should be taken as the basis of discussion.

Mr. Glover said that t-ho assessors present represented only a section of the AVaterside Workers, and as there was a> chance of a national agreement being concluded as the result of the proceedings, it would he necessary for the other unions to ho consulted. The proposals the workers had to the employers some weeks previously had been before the workers and were acceptable to them. Mr. Haggcr asked the employers' representatives whether they would object to this set of demands being put in by the union as counter-proposals.

Mr. Pr.vor said that he would raise no objection to _ this, nor would _ he raise any difficulties on technical points at all.

Mr. Glover: Just to end discussion oil this point I may as well say that we are not prepared to present counterproposals at all until we know the procedure.

Mr. Hagger: The procedure will be exactly as if you were discussing this thing with the employers in a private conference.

Then objection was raised to the presence of Mr. Pr.vor on the ground that he was not an .. employer, and therefore not concerned. The iCbmniissioner explained that Mr. Prvor was legally appointed and had a perfect right to be present- as agent. Ho pointed out, also that the union could, if it chose, appoint an agent-, also.

Mr. Pryor assured the -union assessors that it .was 110 part of his dutv to antagonise them. He was instructed to sav that the employers wore not only desirous of a settlement, but were prepared to discuss any reasonable proposals put forward by the other side.. The employers' proposals were that the preseiif agreement should be renewed for a period, and the employers thought that there was 110 good reason for varying those wages and conditions at present. IF there was .to ho an adjournment it should he as short as possible.

There was some more talk about how the proceedings would affect other unions. The facts, as explained, are. that' employers in every port have cited the unions, making the same proposals, and these disputes will have to he investigated separately. The union representatives were. informed' that they could, if 'they liked, arrange to have the same assessors at all centres, and then arrange .with the employers to npplv for a Dominion award, on the basis of anv agreement that might be rnaehed. M'\ Clover stated ,that the Wellington Union did not want to he forced -into the- Court until evidence could he taken in other centres.

Mr. TTnccer then assumed that this preliminary talk was over, and be pro- j ceeded to direct' the attention of the meeting,to the actual dispute. "Before opening this meeting." be, said. "I want to ask both sides tojemove from I their minds anv of the little troubles that have been oxistin" during the'oast f<nv davs. and to endeavour to brine ebout a settlement, of the dispute tofinv, T want to ask nil present to refrain from personalities and iutevrun'ions. and to conduct the proceeding a proper conciliatory manner. i" 'h"s» are act«d upor. t!i«n I have oi-er v hone "f a terminatioo of uash- dispute " Mr. Glover and Sir; Piyor then had a whispered conversation across tho table, and Mr. Glover conferral with his two supporters. Then Mr. Glover announced that it was impossible for the union assessors to go on with .the case without consulting other urrions, and the executive of tho Waterside Workers' Federation. At this stage he would have to ask for an adjournment to give them an opportunity of" doing this. ' The employers' representatives offered no objections, and au adjournment

was arranged until the evening of Friday, February 23. Mr. Flavell: In the meantime I liojm we can take it that work will go on? Mr. Glover: I will do nothing to hold it up. Mr. Bruce: Ho will be a wise man who can say whether work will go on or not.

Mr. Flavell: Will you do your best to have it carried on?

Mr. Glover: That is what we've been doing all along. (Laughter.) Mr. Bruce: It is your side that has been holding it up.

So the sitting ended. The proceedings had been throughout very quiet, without unnecessary argument, and without the slightest .acrimony. They were, however, quite resultless.

THE RETURNED_SOLDIERS' PART STATEMENT BY THE GENERAL SECRETARY. We have been asked by Sir. C. W. Batten, general secretary of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, to insert the following memorandum respecting the trouble on the waterfront: —

"New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.

"Captain Pitt's offer of assistance by returned soldiers in keeping up supplies for the men at the front and for the Motherland does not mean that the returned soldiers will take sides in the present dispute on the waterfront. "Should the Government be forced to commandeer tho means of transit and tho necessary labour power, returned soldiers wouid bo just as willing to do their duty now as tlicy were on the battlefield."

POSITION AT NAPIER MEN MAY RESUME THIS MORNING. By Telegraph—Press Association _ Napier, February 13. Tho Hon. AV. D. S. Mac Donald presided over a meeting of the waterside employers to-day, held in committeo. The Minister is endeavouring to bring tho parties together to effect a settlement, but so far without success. To-night the waterside leaders and Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of tho Federation of Labour, addressed a crowded meeting in the Municipal Theatre. The Arbitration Court was blamed for tlie wholo trouble, as members of the Court were not acquainted with waterside conditions.,, A resolution ■. was passed deploring tho strike, and urging tlnj Government to bring tho parties together in conference.

Free labour is loading quo Home liner in tho bay, and- unloading another. Coastal shipping has practically ceased, and some shins aro laid up. The employers' representative stated late to-njght that there was a probability of tho disp_ufe~beiog settled, and the men resuming work in the morning.

GISBORNE ISOLATED VARIOUS ACTIVITIES 'TIED UP. By Telegraph—Press Association. Cisborne, February 13. Gisborne is completely isolated in consequence of the shipping disorganisation. No southern mails have been received for iseveral days, and there is 110 prospect of any unless tlie steamers run. Merchants report a shortage of flour, sugar, and potatoes. Tliero is some prospect of the bread supply ceasing in a few days unless the steamers resume running. A larce number of men assembled to-dav for medical examinntion. but the Medical Board was unable to get here. Tlie hoard left Napier byniotorcar this morning, but rain having set in were unable to get through. The Appeal Board, which is also duo from Wairoa, was unable to get here.