DISORDERLY MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1931, Page 8

DISORDERLY MEETING

AUCKLAND WATERS! DERS

PROPOSAL TO RATION WORK

I AUCKLAND, July 15. I Officials of the Ainckland Waterside ; Workers’ Union deny as unauthorised I a report that a vote was taken at yesterday’s meeting on a scheme for a more equal distribution of work by limiting the hours of each man’s work. When the secretary of the union was asked 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 a more equal distribute n of work. The report current on the waterfront was that a; committee of four, set up to report on distribution, recommended that men should stud down after eight hours’, work and allow others to he engaged.. When, after a-heated do-, bate, a vote was called for, the opposing factions created such n disturbance that no count could be taken. A man appointed to count the votes was, so an unofficial report stated, tipped down the stairs and his tally. T’-is is denied bv officials, who state that no vote was'taken on nnv deffinte scheme for distribution. As a result of slackness in trade very l.tUe work wa.s available on the waterfront and some of the men were unable even to P"v the unemployment levy. Several schemes for the alleviation of distress n.tnoncst members by the sharing .°f work had been discussed and the union was now negotiatimr with the emplovp,-<; in’ the hope of making some arrangement.