A Big Order.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9592, 26 July 1907, Page 1

A Big Order.

(Per I'hess Association.) Wellington, July 25. A deputation, from the waterside workers waited en the Minister of Marine last night. Mr MLean, the chief spokesman, said the conference iepre=ented four thousand men employed on the wharves of the colony, and desired to place before the Minister the resolutions arrived at by the Conference. These included recommendations to the Government to pass legislation limiting the size of coal baskets and grain sacks, the appointment of Government officers to report on all cases of accidents atwharves, payment on behalf of the men of full medical"fees in cases of accident, the provision of proper waiting and retiring rooms with baths for men working on the wharves, the remission of the duty .>on flour and potatoes, the recommendation of a Fair Kent- Kill, representation of the wharf workers en the harbor boards, an amendment of the Arbitration: Act to make the' Railway Department a party to awards in resDeet'to wharf laborers, a statutory Saturday half-holiday, exclusion of Asiatics, compulsion for harbor boaTcl to supply requisites for first-aid on wharves nationalisation of the food supplies, and compulsory insurance of laborers. The Minister promised to do the best he could to liave the size of coal baskets regulated, and he would endeavor to have 2001bs 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 harbor board to provide first-aid requisites, lavatories, etc. As to the flour and potato .duties, these were matters for the Cabinet to decide. Since he had held office he had done something to give labor representation on harbor boards, but there wasa' difficulty in : making them elective. As to a -white New .Zealand, he thought the educational test would prove: sufficient to prevent any great number of Chinese -coming into this, country.