WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXI, 26 January 1911, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

THE TROUBLE AT PATEA

Speaking to a Wellington Post representative on the subject of the wharf laborers' dispute at Patea, Mr D. McLaren, M.P, 5 said it seemed to be thought unreasonable that the union should wait until the Arbitration Court had settled the terms. Recent experiences with the Arbitration Court had weakened the confidence which the workers in general should have in the Court's findings. "The existence of this dispute," he added, "shows me that if our arbitration laws are to be more effective of good there will have to be provision made for prompt conciliation and arbitration, on the ground where the dispute arises, instead of having,to wait for the cumbrous procedure that we now have." Mr McLaren added that he addressed a full meetin" of the union last week, and found the men a very quiet but determined body, lhey admitted that initial mistakes had been made, but froto independent investigation he was satisfied that those mistakes were on both sides. But that,'1 he said, "does not deal with the crux of the matter, which is the: men's claim for 2s 6d an hour over, time. The highest wage that the employers have been able to show that ? ny ™an at the port earned in a year is iATl 2 and that was earned by a man who was m the position of head man or foreman for the Patea Company. I am inclined to think that the employers themselves will soon recognise that the earnings of the men have not been sufficient m comparison with what workmen are receiving now throughout the Dominion. I will endeavor to confer with the heads of the shipping companies here, and if any understanding can be arrived at the secretary of ! he w a TJnion will he ready *Q come to Wellington and settle the agreement on behalf of the uniosa.