WATERSIDERS’ DISPUTE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 350, 8 February 1917, Page 6

WATERSIDERS’ DISPUTE.

EIGHT-HOUR SYSTEM AT GISBORNE. A telegram has been received by the. secretary of the union advising that firms in Gisborne have agreed to an eight-hour system from the time men start work. TO ASbIST THE EMPIRE.

The unionists consider that in view of tho fact that large profits are being made by stevedores the workers are endeavouring to assist the Empire when asking the Government to , take control of Unloading of Home boats. They say that the profits of the stevedores for one gang of 13 men working for a day loading meat (seven loads) amount to £2l, the profs increasing in proportion to the number <>t gangs. This unnecessary expenditure should nut, they contend, be allowed on goods which the employers themselves say are for the Imperial Government, “The union hopes,” said One, “that the citizens and residents of Hawke’s Bay, no matter what they think of our attitude otherwise, will not allow the Imperial Government to be mulcted for £2l on every seven loads of meat.” STEAMERS AVORKING.

'The coastal steamers Echo and Koutunui are being worked by' their own crews. The Ripple is idle.

FREE LABOUR

It is reported that the employers are introducing Maori labour and that one man is bringing in a gang >f 30 Maoris.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR'S VIEWS.

HAWKE'S BAY COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION.

The Hawke’s Bay District Council of the United Federation of Labour held their usual bi-monthly’ meeting on Wednesday. February 7. in the Trades Hall, Napier, there being a full attendance of delegates. After the routine business had been transacted the trouble on the wharves was discussed, when the following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That wc, the delegates to the 11.8. District Council of the United Federation of Labour, here, in meeting assembled, hereby express our admiration at the solidarity shown by the waterside workers in their present trouble. We consider that the employers are not showing that spirit of British fail play, as they would have us believe, when they refuse the request of the iqen that labour shall be engaged only at certain fixed hours.

We consider the request of the men to be just and reasonable.” The secretary was instructed to forward copies of the resolution to the three daily papers, the Waterside Workers ’ Union am! the “Maoriland IVorker.”