DISTRIBUTION OF WORK

Evening Star, Issue 20846, 16 July 1931, Page 6

DISTRIBUTION OF WORK

WATERSIDE SCHEME MEETING ENDS IN DISORDER [Special to the ' Star.’] AUCKLAND, July 15. The officials of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union deny, as unauthorised, a report that a vote was taken at yesterday’s meeting on a scheme for more equal distribution of work by limiting the hours of each man’s work. When the secretary of the union was asked yesterday for a report of the meeting he refused to give any information. From several men, _ however, it was learned that the meeting ended in disorder, following a debate _on a scheme for more equal distribution of work.

The report current on the waterfront was that a committee of four set up to report on distribution recommended that men should stand down after eight hours’ work, and allow others to bo engaged. When, after heated debate, a vote was called for, the opposing factions created such a disturbance that no count could bo taken.

The man appointed to count the votes was, so the unofficial report stated, tipped down the stairs and lost the tally. This is denied by the officials, who state that no vote was taken on any definite scheme for distribution. As the result of the slackness in trade very little work was available on the waterfront, and some of the men were unable even to pay the unemployment levy. Several schemes for alleviation of distress amongst members by sharing of the work had been discussed, and the union was now negotiating with the employers in the hope of making some arrangement.