NEW EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1914, Page 4

NEW EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

The correctness of the statement made by the executive of the Wharf Labourers' Union as to the interview between' itself and Mr. W. H. G. Bennett, manager of the recently-formed Wellington Co-opera-tive Waterside Labour Employment Association, is disputed- in several respects by Mr. Bennett. Speaking to a Post reporter on Saturday, Mr. Bennett stated that the statement that he had said the association proposed to take between 1000 and 1100 men into tho register was not quite accurate. The position was that the association had not quite got its list made up yet. _ He anticipated that it would start with about 700 men, while the Harbour Board's list would range from 250 to 350/ As to what jjosition the Harbour Board's employees would be in? -he thought they would be placed practically on the same footing as the association men, but he had no authority to commit the Harbour Board in any way. The Harbour Board could not come into the scheme with the association, being barred by_ legislation, but it was understood from interviews wjth the board's chairman that the board was desirous o_f co-operating with the association in every way possible. As to the "protection or redress the men would receive from being victimised, Mr. Bennett said Iris reply as given was incorrect. He was reported as saying that redress could be obtained "by applying to the manager, who would at oncetake action,, or, if necessary, by applying to the Appeal Board." The answer was correct, so far as the manager was concerned, but there was no Appeal Board. The Committee of Management, however, would be at all times ready to go into questions like that brought before it in the proper way. Regarding the proposed minimum wage, Mr. Bennett stated that a meeting of the association's committee would be held on * Monday afternoon, to consider the union's request to raise the amount from £2 8s to £& 10s per week. AUCKLAND OPPOSITION (II TILIGIUPB.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND This Day. The Waterside Workers Union, at a meeting attended by about six hundred members, expressed the unanimous opinion that a permanent staff similar to that proposed on the Wellington waterfront is against the interests of unionism and of both the workers and tho shipping companies. The executive was empowered to take any steps necessary to oppose the new arrangement so far as it would interfere with the work-* ing conditions existing at 'Auckland, where the utmost good feeling at present exists between the union and employers.