WHARF LABOURERS' UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 32, 7 February 1907, Page 2

WHARF LABOURERS' UNION.

Tho half-yearly mooting of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union was hold in the Trades Hall la«t ovoning. Mr. G. Terry (president) was in the chair, and there was a full attendance of morabers. The secretary presented his half-yearly balance-sheet and report, which showed a very satisfactory Btato of affairs. The balance of assets over liabilities was £350. As showing the progress of tho union Binco its reorganisation in 1599, tho secretary supplied the following figures of balanco to credit in each' year: — 189&, £37; 1900, deficit of 3s 2d. owing fo the disputo being thrown otit py tho court on technical grpundsj 1901, £34; 1902, £34; 1903, £24; 1904, £43; 1935, £41; 1006, £100. - Tho ofScars aproinlod for tho coming term woro as follow.: — President, Mr. I. King (elected unopposed) ; vice-president, Mr. W. Itixon; treasurer, Mr. T. Smith (ro-olected unopposed) ; secrctaryi Mr. D. M'Larcn. Tho membership of tho Union haß considerably increased sinco the last halfyoarly meeting, 100 new members having bom added. Tho total membership is , now. about 600. Tho union has a special •fund, to be used for social and educational purposes, amounting to £94. As Indicating ono branch of work carried out by the union, ift tho way of rolioving indigent members, the secretary reported that fully £150 had boon paid out lor tho reliof of such cases duririi tha past half-year. Regarding industrial, conditions, tho cecretwy reported that work had been brisk On the wharves, but thero had boeh a full supply of labour, and all demands hnd been mot. Although tho award under which the union was work- I ing had expired, tho union had rofraindd from taking action towards securing n fresh one, on account of its want of confidence In sevoral of tho past judgments of tho Arbitration Court. The union noted with appreciation tho action of the Harbour Board, On tho motion of Mr. R. Fletcher, in conceding to their casual labourers Is 3d ordinary time, and 2s oyortimo, and the payment of tho overtime rato /fom noon on Saturdays, which tho union had previously pressed on tha board. The secretary locotninontlod that feettlbmcnt at any existing differences with 'ho omployon could, ho thought, be offeelod, nnd an agreement arrived at, 'provided the fchippihg companies granted to. thoir employees tho overtimo rale after noon oh Saturdays. With the- progrew ; th»t had been mado, ho considered that it Would be but a short timo before prof orence^ must bo conceded to monibdrs of the union. In reforonco to Iho Ndw Zonlmd Waterside Workers' Federation, Mr. M'Lareiit who is also secretary for that body ( repoited that excellent progress had been made.. The Auckland wharfmen, who wore ciißorganited when tho federation Was' initiated, had now formed a. Uhion 300 strong ; tho WostpOrt Unioh Mad affiliated with tho federation, and thofro wor« indicaUohs that unions at two* other ports would do tho tame. i Th 6 Union's delegates to th 6 Trades and Labour Council \v<>re instructed to preßS tho matter of melting frtovltion in tho way of n profior trados hall for 'Wellington, ns the uhion considered thUfc to bo one of the fiM6 necessities in the Labour movement.