RIGHT OP APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 44, 20 August 1925, Page 9

RIGHT OP APPEAL

FOR HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES.

• Moving, the second reading of the Harbours Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last ■ night, Mr. A. L. Monteith (Wellington East) said it provided for the setting up. of an appeal board similar to that constituted under the Tramways Act, 1910. He said it wag necessary that there should be such a board, in order that men might have the right to appeal against what they considered- to be grievances in the matter of promotions and disratings. The tramway appeal; board had the support of most of the municipal authorities, and led to contentment in the tramways services. He claimed that a similar result would be,manifested in this case of 1 harbour boards. Mr. J. R. Corrigan (Patea*) opposed the Bill because it had not been submitted to the Harbour Boards Conference. . ' ..-.,. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) felt that .the Waterside Workers Union could . adequately conserve the interests of harbour board."employees. "The Bill would have a detrimental effect in the administration of the Wellington Harbour Board, and he did not know that there was any need for it, H« could not see that the work of harbour boards was analogous to municipalities, but was not oppoitd to the Bill going before the Labour Bills Committee, where evidence for and against could be called. In ths opinion of Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchuroh East) the fate of the Bill, If it went to the Labour Bills Committee, was sealed, because the chairman of that committee (Sir John Luke) had pre-judged it beforehand. Mr. Corrigan'had not adduceda satisfactory reason why he should oppose the Bill, and, as a member of the Liberal Party which had propounded the principle of arbitration, "it* was very near time that he was tried by court-martial before a caucus meeting of his own party" because of his attitude to the Bill. (Laughter.) Mr. Armstrong said his experience as a tramways union secretary had been .that appeal' boards gave a sense of security to the employees. : Mr. S.'G, Smith (Tarariaki) thought there could be no argument against a dismissed man having the right of appeal. THe Bill should be allowed to go to the Labour Bills Committee. The Hon. W. Nosworthy: "The Government is offering no objection." Mr. Monteith moved that the Bill be sent to the Labour. Bills Committee, and twitted Mr. Corrigan for having given a favourable promise to the employees of the Patea Harbour Board in regard to the Bill- . Mr. Corrigan denied having given a pledge to support the' Bill.. ■ The Bill was referred to the Labour Bills Committee.