LABOUR'S DEMANDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 176, 27 July 1907, Page 7

LABOUR'S DEMANDS.

WHAT THE WHARF-LUMPERS

WANT,

[press association.]

WELLINGTON, July 26. A deputation .from the waterside workers waited on the Minister i:or : Marine last night. . Mr McLean, the .chief spokesman, said that the conference represented four thousand men employed on the wharves of the Colony, and desired to place before the Minister the resplutons arrived at by the conference. These included- recommendations to the Government to pass legislation' limiting the size of coal-baskets arid grain-sacks; the appointment of Gov-. eminent officers to report on all cases of accidents at the wharves; payment on behalf of the men of. full medical fees in cases;of accident; provision of proper waiting and retiring rooms, with baths, for men working on the wharves; remission of duty on flour and potatoes; recommendation of a Fair Rent Bill; representation of the wharf-workers on the Harbour Boards; amendment of the Arbitration Act to make the Railway Department a party to awards in respect to wharf-labourers; statutory Saturday half-holiday; exclusion of Asiatics; compulsion for Harbour Boards to supply requisites for first aid on wharves; nationalisation of the food supplies, and compulsory insurance nf labourers. r. .-

The Minister (Mr Millar) promised to do the best he could to have the size of coal-baskets regulated, and he would endeavour to have 200 lbs fixed as the weight of a wheat-sack. He would give instructions to have the gear used in coal-handling inspected every three months. It was the duty of every Harbour Board, he said, to provide first aid requisites, lavatories, etc. As to the flour and potatoes duties, these were matters for Cabinet to decide. Since he had held office he had done something to give Labour representation on Harbour Boards, but there was a difficulty in making them elective. As to a "White New Zealand," he thought the educational test would prove sufficient to prevent; any great miraber of Chinese coming into this country.