WORK ON THE WHARVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 8

WORK ON THE WHARVES

STEVEDORING PROPOSAL.

OPPOSITION IN AUCKLAND.

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY URGED.

The proposal for the formation of a New Zealand Cooperative Stevedoring Association was considered by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a meeting held yesterday afternoon.

The following resolution was passed: — "The Auckland Chamber of Commerce while in sympathy with co-operation of Labour and Capital, is apprehensive of the proposed New Zealand Co-operative Stevedoring Association upon the lines of an agreement published by the New Zealand Welfare League for the following reasons:—(l) The aereement. has been arrived at without any publicity being given to the proposal ; (21 the agreement proposes a monopoly of the handling of cargo, such monopoly to be under the control of the shipping companies and the Waterside Workers' Federation; (3) the wharves and plant for the handling of cargo and its temporary storage are public property, Drovided by public money; (4) the fixing of wageswhich must ultimately be paid for by the public —is left solely in the hands of the monopoly; (5) competition for stevedoring is abolished ; (6) both parties to the agreement are under suspicion of exploiting the nublic unduly, and unnecessarily, while oni, party is a declared supporter of the formation of a " council of action." which is admittedly an attack upon .constitutional Government. The chamber, therefore, calls upon the Government to inquire into the agreement and the terms of the same and demands that the public, through the Harbour Boards, the merchants, accredited Labour unions, and any other individuals or bodies which can throw any light upon the question, be heard at such inquiry, which must be open to the public and press of the Dominion."