WATERFRONT LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15660, 14 July 1914, Page 8

WATERFRONT LABOUR.

QUESTION OF CONTROL.

HARBOUR BOARD'S POLICY.

"LEAVING WELL ALONE."

The decision of the Auckland waterside workers to oppose any new arrangement —such as the formation of a permanent staff—thaj. might interfere with the working conditions now in existence on the Auckland waterfront, was mentioned to the chairman of tho Harbour Board, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday. In reply, tho chairman explained the position as far as the board was concerned. " The special resolution, adopted last Wednesday by tho board," he.said, "has been conveyed j ,to the Prime Minister. The board does I ! not in any way consider this matter with ! a view to initiating a scheme to bring about a change in the present conditions on the Auckland waterfront, but the question was considered in response to the I Government's request for information as |to the altitude of the board. It was, •therefore, obviously the duty of the board 'to express its opinion in order that legislation, if any is enacted, may not he of such a character as to prejudice either tho board or others concerned." In reply to a question as to whether tho board was likely to do anything in tho way of acting in conjunction with the shipping companies, as suggested elsewhere, in regard to the control of waterfront labour, Mr. Gunson said the board did not propose to take any steps at all in this direction, and it was perfectly certain that unless either legislation was passed or the conditions here necessitated any action on the part of the board, nothing would be dono. "In any case," he said, "I think that both the I shipping people and waterside workers ■ can rest assured that, even assuming legislative powers are given to the board this session, no movement whatever, which would interfere with the existing agreement with the Waterside Workers' Union, will be made. " It is admitted," continued the chairman, " that conditions in Auckland at the present time are more satisfactory than they have been for many years, and unless : further cause arises than at present exists, or unless there is some indication that lit would be in the public interest for | the board to move in the matter, tho l policy of the board will be to leave well . alone." i In response to an inquiry, Mr. J Gunson said there had been several meetings of representatives of the board, and shipping companies. Tho board had received a communication from tho shipping interests in regard to certain desired changes. " The board," continued the chairman, " will do everything which reasonably devolves upon ft to facilitate tbo business of the companies, but it should bo remembered that at the present time the board is not an employer of stevedoring or wharf labour. While & strong section of the shipping interests is desirous that the board should take over the latter, yet, I think it is very unlikely the board, at this juncture, will d* so. The time may arrive when it may oe doomed that this ifi the best course to follow, and, perhaps the board may even go further. As, however, tho question is one of such great importance to all concerned, any step the board may tako will not be of a precipitous character. "We are watching, with very great interest, the development in Wellington, whpre some arrangement has been entered into to bring about the separate control of labour there. We shall probably learn some lessons from that quarter. lam not very hopeful that what is being dono there will prove successful, as the changinn of control and the merging of interests will probably bo found inconvenient and calculated to produce friction. The Auckland Harbour Board," said the chairman in conclusion, "has throughout taken up the position that there should bo no division of authority, 'the board is not anxious to accept further responsibility, but if it has eventually to do, so for the publio good, it will not shrink from its duty. In the meantime the whole question will ho carefully considered, and time alone can provide an answer to the different problems involved."