WATERFRONT ANTIPATHY

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 14

WATERFRONT ANTIPATHY

NEW SHELTER AGGDMMDDATION TALLY CLERKS NOT WANTED The antipathy between the waterside workers and the tally clerks was forcibly expressed by Mr D. Copland (president of the Waterside Workers’ Union) at last night’s meeting of the Harbour Board when the plans of the new shelter building were being discussed. “ There is not a chance in the world of tho .tally clerks being attached to our building,” he declared. “ We have plenty of troubles of our own and we won’t want anybody else in the building. As a matter of fact, we won’t have them.”

When the sketch plan was placed before the board, tho secretary read a letter from the newly-formed Dunedin and Port Chalmers Tally Clerks’ Union asking for accommodation in the new building.

Mr Copland argued that the question of provision for tally clerks was entirely out of the question. If the tally clerks wonted accommodation, that should he a question between the new organisation and the board. Tho waterside workers’ building had been before the board for a long time, and it would be pointless for him to inform tho board that tho present building was in a deplorable state; in wet weather the men might as well be/ in tho open ns in the rooms. The plans submitted by the engineer were satisfactory to his union and tho only thing to lie done now was to get on with the job of erection. He was satisfied that tlie board would authorise the expenditure. '

Mr J. IT. Duncan agreed that the waterside workers required a new building but the tally clerks were human beings and, whether or not they were in a union, they were deserving of consideration. He asked the board to make space provisions for the clerks. Mr Copland: The tally clerks can join the Waterside Workers’ Union. Have the tally clerks registered as a union ? Mr F. E. Tyson : No.

“ The correct time to bring their request before the board is when they become a properly organised union,” said Mr Copland. “In the meantime, we should concentrate on-the waterside workers’ looms.”

Mr Sharpe : Whether or not they are unionists, they are entitled to consideration.

Moving tho adoption of the plans, Mr Tyson said it would be better if the tally clerks were kept apart from the waterside workers.

“Mr Chairman, would you have somebody in tho next room who you did not want while the board was sitting?” asked Mr Copland in stressing bis opposition to the tally clerks being accommodated. “We have our business to discuss and we do not want others in.the building.” The engineer gave details of the construction of tho proposed building, and said that the sketch plans provided for a two-storeyed building with committee room, .secretary’s room, paymaster’s room, and recreation room on the top flo.or, and hooking room, lavatory, and bicycle room on the bottom floor. He recommended that an architect be engaged and that tenders bo called for the construction of the building. Mr Tyson’s motion was carried, and the tally clerks’ communication was received, the secretary’s letter in reply, asking for information regarding the registration of the union, and the number of members, being approved.