WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 4

WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

OLD FEDERATION RESUSCITATED,

After deliberating for a week the waterside workers' conference at Wellington concluded its work on Saturday, and yesterday Messrs J. Flood (president) and W. Agar (secretary) o the Lyttelton Waterside Workers Union returned homo by the ferry steamer.

"Tho conference was most successful," stated Mr Agar to a "Lyttelton Times" reporter shortly after his arrival. ' "There were no fewer than nineteen delegates present representing twelve unions, and I think that those who were unrepresented (principally through lack of funds) will soon join in. As the result of the conference I think it can bo justly claimed that practically the whole of the waterfront employees of the Dominion are again linked up into one big body. At first tho business at the conference did not proceed too amicably, but this was due to the feeling that existed amongst a section of the northern delegates, particularly Auckland, but afterwards everything passed off smoothly and good debates followed. Briefly, the lesult of the conference is that the old Waterside Workers' Federation (which came into operation before the advent of the Federation of Labour) has again been resuscitated and J have not the least doubt that good results will follow. The headquarters of the Federation has been fixed at Wellington, and tho executive appointed is a representative one and should have no difficulty in expressing the general wishes of federated unions. "Delegates gave much consideration to tile increased cost of living during the past four years, and the opinion was generally expressed that the ■ existing conditions justified watersiders taking into consideration the question of obtaining an increase in wages. With thi. end in view a committee was set up to go into the matter, and as the result of its deliberations a tabulated and amended scale oi proposals will shortly bo forwarded to the employers, and it is to be hoped that some 'time next mouth n satisfactory conference will be held between the employers and representatives oi the unions. Had the conditions remained normal I do not think the men would "have pressed lor increased demands Then again it must be remembered that |„ some instances the present awards have expired. Whilst on tins subject I must point out that the agreements under which wo are work g were mutual ones, rati hod only b. the Arbitration Court, and thereforewo should have the right to have them superseded. The wages question was reasonably fought out round he table land I think the iiums demands will be found to be fair and just. • Questioned on the recent: rumour ol a strike on the waterfronts of New kl and, Mr Agar stated that this matter had undoubtedly come from some irresponsible individuals It was discussed unofficially at the conference, but rom his own knowledge delegate* dissociated themselves I rom such an "Another important decision arrived at,"" continued Mr Agar, " was the proposal that a plebiscite should be taken of all unions before the executive c'uk decide on any matte, ot vital importance to the we fare ot the unions and those who depend upon the waterfront for their livelihood. Ihe conference was practically unanimous on this point, and the public can rest assured that it has not been left to a small body of men to give a final decision on matters such as those already mentioned. In reply to a question Mr Agar aaid that delegates generally decided that future agreements should bo strictly in accordance with tho- Arbitration "I' think," concluded Mr Agar, "that the conference was one of the be<t that I have yet attended, and I am sure the results will bz beneficial to watersiders generally."