WHARF LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1915, Page 3

WHARF LABOUR

WAGES AND CONDITIONS. Labour on the wharves was considered by the Harbour Boaixl- .yesterday, when Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh moved — "That a committee consisting of five members of the board be set up to report to the board at its next .meeting upon .the following masters: — (a) The engagement of labour on the wharf; (b) the hours worked; (c) overtime worked; (d) distribution of employment; (c) number oi gangs employed in" one hold at one time ; (f) and generally upon the conditions of the engagement, employment, distribution, and discharge of labour on the Wellington waterfront." Mr. Hindmareh said the committee proposed should report to the board at next meeting. There w.ere a great, number of accidents on the wharf (one a day, he had been informed). That was a matter that the board should consider. Inspection should be made as to the 1 working conditions on the wharf. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion, providing clause (c) was omitted. The shipping companies would have to be applied to for an answer to that question, but they could not do it. They would not know what labour was wanted. The accidents; were mostly on the ships']; over which' the board had no control. It was not right to «ay that there was an accident &j day on tho wharf. Mr. Cobbe thought if the men began to think that it was necessary that a committee had to be set up to enquire into working conditions, they might think that they, were nofc asavell treated" as they actually were. He hoped there would „be nothing done to disturb conditions. The men were well paid. The Chairman said the condition* of work and wage*,, were such that the board had nothing to be ashamed of. Mr. Sinclair moved, as an amendment, that the information asked . for by Mr. -HindmaTsh be obtained from the officers of the board. Mr. Jones saw no need for «Mr. Hind : marsh's motion. Everything was working satisfactorily, and Mr. Hindmarsh had furnished no evidence to the contrary. The motion was absolutely unnecessary. Mr. Cohen seconded the amendment, which was carried. ' The board also decided that Mr. Bennett, manager of the wharf labour control ' scheme, should attend the next meeting. A motion of Mr. Hindmarsh .' to - the effect that the secretary, of- the ' Waterside Workers' Onion should attend was rejected.