DEMAND FOR HALF-HOLIDAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 7

DEMAND FOR HALF-HOLIDAY.

WHARF WORKERS' POSITION. The Waterside Workers in conference to-day generally supported tho remit from the executive — » "That the conference urge upon the Government the need for statutory weekly half-holiday for all waterside workers." ' In the discussion that followed the chairman (Mr. F. Burton, Wellington), explained that when the Wellington Workers went before the court for a half-holiday on Saturday, in view of the fact that the Harbour Board granted its employees a half-holiday, the union representatives were roundly blamed by the members for not putting the case fox" the half -holiday strongly enough. Mr. M'Laren (Wellington) made » strong plea for the passing of the motion, and instanced cases of men working for 70 hours on the wharf. Subsequently he said he was moved to take action in connection with the waterside workers when he saw, as he had seen, the Wellington wharves flooded with men looking for work on Sundays. It was a disgrace that such a thing should have existed, and he started out to have these Sunday engagements abolished. The proposal was bitterly opposed, but eventually an adjustment was made in the running tims of the boats, so as to avoid working cargo on ' Sundays. He looked forward to when they would have their half-holiday fixed for Saturday. Mr. Voyce (Lyttelton) : "I like to see a game of foo'ball at the week end, and it is necessary that the' half-holiday be on a Saturday." He thought the shipping companies could get their boats Jn or out earlier. Mr. Hubbard (Dunedin) wished to | know how this proposal would apply to tidal ports like Dunedin. Persqnally he preferred Saturday afternoon as much as anybody else, but he would like to know how they were to get it. Messrs. Canham and Gibb (Auckland) referred to fruit boats arriving at th p ir -port. Perishable cargo would have to bo token off. The former suggested paytaenv of double time, 5s an hour, if perishable cargo had to be discharged on the statutory half-holiday. Mr. Jackson (Greymouth) said workern at his port had beun so successful in getting their half-holiday thai, no matter what happened they would not work on the half-holiday. It had been shown that it was the holiday, and not the overtime, that they wanted, and they nad been successful. The chairman said the Union Com* pany, for example, could and did arrange the movements of its vessels so that they arrived in port on given days, and the company could arrange where its boats would be twelve months hence. The company could do this if a statutory half-holiday were obtained. "If we carry this motion," he continued, "we can go as a deputation from tho conference and represent to the Government that we want a half -holiday. What we want, and what we mean to have, is a Saturday half-holiday." Mr. Canham : the Union Company arrange the* weather for its boats? Mr. Voyce : I am prepared to stand out for Saturday afternoon. I can get any other afternoon as a holiday — too many half-holidays — but give me Saturday afternoon. Eventually the motion was carried unanimously after further discussion.

At th» Mount Cook Polica Court this morning, Jeremiah Looney, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s, in default seven days' imprisonment. One first-offender was convicted and discharged. Mr. T. S. Lambert was the presiding justice. Messrs W F. Shortt, Ltd , will sell household furniture and bagatelle table at their mart, Willis-strcot. to-morrow. Full