SHIPPING

Evening Star, Issue 16782, 10 July 1918, Page 4

SHIPPING

The Waipori is being delayed in hnT loading operations at Wellington owing to a shortage of labor. She is now expected to leave the northern port to-morrow afternoon for Lyttelton and Dunedin. The Rosamond, is being delayed at Napier by heavy rain. She is expected to leave the Hawke's Bay port to-morrow for Wellington, Oamaru, and Timaru. The Kaitangata arrived at Auckland at 3 a.m. to-day from Auckland. She is expected to leave the West Coast port to-morrow night with a cargo of coal for. Auckland.

The Te Anau was delayed in discharging operations at Wellington yesterday owing to a shortage of labor. -She is expected to leave the northern port to-day for Timaru.

Heavy rain was falling at Greymouth to-day, 'and a strong easterly wind was blowing. A considerable sea was running on the bar. We-stport reported a moderate sea on the bar. AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDE WORKERS. A conference between the representatives of the shipowners and the repre-ec-ntatives of the Australian Waterside Workers' Federation, with the object of endeavoring to secure what may be regarded as permanent employment for the men, was suggested by Mr Justico Wiggins in the Arbitration Court on June- 25 at Melbourne during the hearing of the federation's claims for preference and award as to picking-up places. Mr Justice Iliggins said that circumstances had precipitated action towards the deeasnalisation of labor. He. suggested to the employers that it would be advantageous if labor could be decasualised, so that members of the federation could get a fixed weekly wage. The union had taken the view' that they would not agree unless all could get it. Though it did rot come within his jurisdiction at that parties representative of all interests had their attention on the dispute, and he risked would it not be possible for shipowners and. unionists to meet and see how far the labor could be made constant at a, weekly wage. A fringe would be left over, ' but that could be regulated. A. system of constant labor, interfering sadly witli the- previous practice. had been adopted. If there was a dispute, and it tamo to court, he would not hesitate to maka an award as to payment for union labor.

Tho representatives of tho parties having agreed to confer as suggested, Mr Justice Iliggins went on to say that he. considered the chance a grand, one, and the opportunity may not- occur again. H would be a tremendous thing if even' man could feel certain of getting work. Tho bond submitted by the federation woidd \ not, suit him. He was getting certain [ safeguards for the members regarding their rights at the bureaux and preference, so that the men would be treated as civilised boincrs, and not have a rough-and-tumble, scramble for the work. Ho wanted the men to undertake something in return. It was a bond against striking themselves or joining in a sympathetic strike. Ho wished the federation to consider the execution of a bond for £SOO in favor of the industrial registrar and to his satisfaction, conditioned so that, the federation paid £SO if and so often as anv two of their members m combination "strurick or failed to accept employment which was offered as a means of enforcing compliance with any demand made by them or on their behalf of any respondent, or in any demand made by smother union or any other employer. _ H« was asking ior a bond in the case of the federation, because if the undertaking was broken tho only remedy was contempt. An application for contempt, if granted, would mean the sequestration of the whole of the assets of the federation. It would knock the federation out absolutely. At a subsequent stage Mr Seale said that he had interviewed Sir Owen Cox, deputy controller of oversea shipping and chairman of the oversea shipping representatives, regarding the suggestion for permanent work. Sir Owen Cox desired him to point out to the Court that thera would be no objection to meeting representatives of the federation in conference, but at the. same time he (Six Owen Cox) did not want to throw dust in tha eyes of the Court and lead Mr Justice Hig<nns to think that there was any possibility'of arriving at any agreement as to the employment of the men as constant hands. Owing to the great falling-off in shipping and "tho irregularity with which ships came in, it was impossible-to determine with any degree of certainty as to the number of constant bands required to carry on the industry. If Mr Justice Higgins thou gilt any good would arise out of meeting the federation in canfewxicc it could be arranged.