INTENTIONS MISINTERPRETED

Evening Star, Issue 21493, 18 August 1933, Page 11

INTENTIONS MISINTERPRETED

HARBOUR BOARD AND LABOURERS’ WAGES

REASONS FOR CONFERENCE EXPLAINED

Any suggestion that the Otago Harbour Board, in calling a conference of local bodies to consider wages and conditions of employment of labourers, was seeking to further reduce wages was strongly disavowed at last night’s meeting of the board. Regret was expressed that the board’s intentions were misinterpreted in a circular to other local bodies. “ I don’t think the board intended a circular like this to be sent out to local bodies, and I resent it,” said MiArch. Campbell, who read the following from the letter: —“ It is considered that, with the lower rate of wages ruling outside all local bodies, the present is an opportune time for local bodies to review the rates of wages ami conditions of employment as detailed in the existing awards.” “1 think that is pretty tough, as the board never intended that,” said Mr Campbell. Mr F. Jones, M.P.: Read the rest of it.

On ruling Mr Campbell out of order, as the confirmation of the minutes, the accuracy of which was not challenged, was the current business, the Chairman promised that opportunity would _be given later in the meeting to discuss the complaint. Subsequently, when the proposal was made that the matter should be taken in “ committee,” Mr Jones said everybody had read the circular in the Press. They should be made acquainted with the board’s intentions. The board decided to take the discussion in open meeting. It was not the board’s intentions to cut down wages, said Mr Campbell. The couching of the terms in the circular was evidently due to an oversight on the secretary’s part. They knew that the workers’ wages were already low enough. The board’s intention was that local bodies should confer and obtain one set of conditions and wages—and not because n few outside people were cutting the workers down to a very low rate. He had been associated with thc_ chairman and Mr Duncan in the negotiations for a new agreement with the mole workers, and a very fair arrangement was reached. He was not going to be a party to any wage cuts. He moved that a letter be sent to the local bodies redrafting the previous circular. Seconding the motion. Mr F. Jones, M.P.. said he objected to the conference on the grounds that the Harbour Board was quite able to bring about an agreement with its own workers. However, a majority of the board con sidered that there should be uniformity among local bodies. The St. Hilda Council, which was to bo congratulated on not having imposed the 10 per cent, cut, had refused to attend any conference, the purpose of which was to further reduce wages. They should not take advantage of the workers because of the bad economic conditions.

Mr John Loudon said it would have been better if the board’s resolution only had been sent out: —“ That a conference bo held with regard to wages and conditions of employment. ’ Mr J. B. Waters agreed that no elaboration was necessary.

The Chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) : It was quite unintentional. Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., said that the secretary had probably misinterpreted the hoard’s mind. He had explained the true position to those with whom he had come in contact.

Mr Duncan said the circular was very unfortunate, because it created a feeling directly opposed to that ruling in the negotiations with tho mole workers. The circular had certainly raised a feeling of antagonism, In the “other side.” The circular was con trary to the board’s intentions, and the board should go to some length to explain its true attitude. It was decided to acquaint the other local bodies of the board’s intentions and to express regret that the previous letter was based on a misapprehension.