WHARF WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 66, 19 March 1915, Page 8

WHARF WORKERS

HOUR OF ENGAGING LABOUR. The Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union held a well- attended meeting last evening, when Mr. F. Curtice, the president, was in the chair. The. executive recommended that a. ballot of all financial members be taken on the wharves on the question of reducing the annual subscription of 26s (6d a week) to £1 a year, to be paid quarterly. The meeting adopted the recommendation and the dates fixed for the ballot were Wednesday, 31st March, and Thursday, Ist April. Mr. G. Gray was elected returning officer, and Messrs. D. Ready and H. Green scrutineers. A proposal to establish a sick and accident fund was held over for a Sunday meeting to enable all the 'members to be present The union decided to affiliate with the Workers' Educational Association. It was reported by ths secretary (Mr. J. G. Bruce) that all the companies, with the exception of Messrs. Gannaway and Co., had agreed to the proposal to make 7.45 a.m. (as previously) the honr for engaging labour on the wharves instead of 7.30 a.m. The secretary was instructed to have tho rules drafted by the Rules Revision Committee some time ago incorporated in the rules, of the union. It was reported that work on the wharves was very slack at present, and tho money earned was lower than for some time past. Further, it was stated that the union was being flooded with men from all parts of New Zealand, and that they were displacing men who had belonged to tho union for a long time past. Tho opinion was ex-yessed that the outlook on the wharves tor the winter months was not a. bright one.