AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 5

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD

ROOMS frOR WHARF WORKERS. b— - A LIBRARY WANTED. The Auckland Harbour Board met in committee yesterday afternoon. Those present were: The chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson), Messrs. H. M. Smeeton, W. J. Napier, Mact'arlane, Gunson, Bradney, Entrican, Hutchison, Basley, and Captain McKenzie.

' A letter was received from the Waterside Workers' Union, and, a deputation from the union waited on the committee, in reference to the room which the ■ Harbour Board propose to build for the accommodation of the waterside workers. Mr. Hogan, for the deputaion, said they wished to get an up-to-date and suitable building as,a waiting-room and a place for the men to be told off every day, and they wished to have the site as near as possible to the head of Queen-street Wharf.

The Chairman said that the plans were all ready and very suitable provision had been made in a new building to go on the wharf.

Mr. Hogan said they would like to know how far that suitable provision would go. What size would the room be, for instance?

The Chairman said that the room would be 50ft by 20ft, and would bo made suitable in other ways.

Mr. Hogan said that was inadequate or the accommodation of 600 or 700 men. What they wanted was a two-storey buildng, 90ft 'by 50ft, the lower room to bo levoted to a place for telling-off the men, with a raised, dais for the employers, and the upstairs room to bo devoted to a reading-room, and to be supplied with lavatories, etc. The Chairman: Not a gambling-room? Mr. Hogan: "No. If you can give us that accommodation we will set up a committee and see that nothing of that kind goes on." Continuing, he said that the smployers would not run about after men, and when they were not to bo found in a certain place they would pick up men in the street, which was not desirable either to the employers or employees. The Chairman said the Board could B[ive instructions to have tenders called for the building they proposed to erect, and - the work would then be proceeded with, and, if the accommodation was then found to be insufficient, they could then look about for another site and see what further provision could be made. Another member of the deputation 6aid that at Lvttelton there was a room provided, 80ft by 33ft. They would not'have enough" room in the building which the Board proposed to erect, but if the Board would put one up "which it would not hurt our dignity to enter" they would run it on proper line and perhaps have a library there. Each member of the union could give a volume or two, and perhaps the public would assist them in that matter. If the Board did not give them suitable and sufficient accommodation the men would have to stand out in the rain, and it was bad enough to have to work in the rain, without standing about while one was idle. If they collected about at the street corners they were moved away by the police, which was not a very pleasant nor a dignified position for them to be in. Other members of the deputation also spoke, and the deputation then withdrew. , Mr. Gunson said he thought the accommodation proposed inadequate. The matter might be referred to a sub-committee. The Chairman said this matter had received very careful consideration. He thought they should refer it to the Ferries Committee, so that tenders could be called immediately. ;" 4 Mr. Napier moved that the matter be referred to a sub-committee for report. This proposal met with the approval of the ; committee, and - the motion was carried. • '■'' ; ;*••■'* '"''"''y'" :,: ; '''*' ••* '■ !"" '■'"■'»: