WATERFRONT LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17755, 14 April 1921, Page 5

WATERFRONT LABOUR.

PERMANENT SCHEME DESIRED

ROYAL COMMISSION URGED.

Employment on the Auckland waterfront formed the subject of a discussion by the provincial executive of the"Farmers' Union yesterday. The matter -was introduced by a letter from the Welfare League inviting the union to appoint delegates to a conference to be held shortly to consider this important, question. Mr- P- M. Curnow, secretary to the Welfare League, who was present, explained that the object of the conference ■was to ascertain the conditions obtaining on the Auckland waterfront compared with those in vogue in other shipping centres, and to endeavour to formulate a scheme to be applied throughout the Dominion. He said that to bring in a definite -workable scheme thev would have to fight both the Shipowners* Federation and the Waterside Workers' Federation.

It was decided that the union be represented at the conference, and MessrsA. A. Ross. C. C. Munro, and Captain F. Colbeck were appointed delegates. Captain Colbeck later raised the question of the appointment of a Royal Commission to take evidence and make recommendations concerning the employment of labour on the wharves at the various ports in New Zealand. He said the union should strongly urge the adoption of this course in order that everything possible should be done to solve the problem. He moved that the Government be urged to appoint such a commission after the conferences now proposed have been held. Mr. Curnow said the idea of holding conferences was to enable those interested to prepare in a concise form evidence to be placed before a commission should one be appointed. Mr. Keegan seconded the motion, which was caxriei