OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14776, 8 March 1910, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

SI'WJIAIi MKKTIXC. A special meeting of tho Otago Harbour Board was held jesierday afternoon lo conside: Idlers liom the town clerk regarding the 'proposals of the General _ Labourers' Union as lo anew award, and, if necessary,' lo appoint to ; attend the conference of local bodies-'-proposed to bu held in tho Town Hall .to-night. There were prcicut—Mr W. Uarcluy (chairman), and Jicssi* K- Uodfrcd, U. B. Bullock, W. Jielchor, W. Wilkinson, W. Gow, T. Ross, and l'\ W. l'latts. The Chairman .mid the question .penccl up a .'cry largo situject—that of local bodies coming under the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Com I, and 11)0 question was whether it was desirable for the board lo join with the other local bodies in appearing before the court, when the demands of the Labourers' Association came up for consideration. Perhaps Messrs Bullock ami Wilkinson, who attended a conference of Harbour Board, Drainage Board, and City Council representatives, might explain what was done at that conference.

' Mr Bullock said he was at. the last conference with Messrs lioss and Wilkinson. At the slait they said they were not present, as delegates .appointed by the. board's authority. Nothing was done beyond appointing a committee to go into the mailer and try to arrange what tho local bodies considered would bo a reply to tho demands by the union. That committee had to report, lo the confereuco to-morrow, and that iy,i6 as far as the thing had gone. Ho certainly' thought that the board ought to bo represented, and would move that the board's delegates bo tho chairman and the chairmen of tho Financo and Works Committees.

Mr Gow seconded. Tho Chairman did not quite agree with the motion. As the board only emplovcd labour as it required it, it was not in the eame class as contractors and others, who used labour as a' means of profit. TJic painters' case- was allowed to go simply because tho local bodies up till (her had not been mado parties lo an award of tho Arbitration Court. It wa6 simply to find out what tho board's position was in the matter, and on the advice of (lie solicitor and tho secretary ho agreed to that, rase going on. When that decision .was c 'ivcn, so far as he was concerned the matter ceased, and he did not think it right for the board to do anything else than acquiesce in any finding that the Arbitration' Court might make. Ho did not seo that tho board was called on to contest any domand that might he made, but held that it should leavo it absolutely to the judge to say' what was a reasonable and fair demand, and pay the wages the court might award.

Mr Wilkinson said he could not agree with tho chairman. Ho thought that local bodies ought to make their position perfectly clear, and he supported the sending of delegates lo a conference, whew the subject- could be fully discussed. Mr Hoss said tho appointing of delegates to a conference would not necessarily commit tho board, lie thought, however, that tho board was in a, different position from that of tho private contractor, who had to make o. profit. They should let it go before'tho court, and abide by tho judge's decision.

Mr Belcher moved as an amendment— "Thai I his" board is of opinion that there is no necessity for conferring with other local bodies in this connection, but it Iho General Labourers' Union desires to bring a case before the Conciliation Commrfsioner or the Arbitration Court, this board bb represented if cited as one of tlho parlies thereto. 1 " He -moved; the amendment because lie thought there was no necessity for local bodies to lay their heads together in this matter to decide what was lo bo done. What the- local bodies could do ho could not say. He did not think that it. was a function of local, bodies to set themselves in opposition to men who were trying to better their social conditions- That could be (lone strenuously enough by llio privato employer. His idea was that they should simply 6tand aloof until cited. '.

Mr Bullock said they were cited already. Mr Godfrcd seconded the amendment. Souse of the men were already paid tatter than employees of local belies. .Mr Cow expressed disappointment that the chairman should take such a narrow view of tho duties of the board. In his opinion they should not stand aloof when a question like this was raised. It was

their duly la lake the matter into consideration and express an opinion ae to whether the demands of the men were fair and reasonable or otherwise.

Mr Platts thought, the board should sand representatives, not with the view 'of hostility to the demands of the union, but in order to discover the position of affairs. Xo doubt the board .would:always pay. up lo any wages in an award, so there was no xiiicistioii ofibeing afraid of being mulcted. Hut. some of the'union's proposals would b'.< against the interests of the lward's cmplo,vecs,''and for 'that'reason they should go into the (piostion and find out whether .the board ought to.assent or not. ,Alr Bullock briefly replied. '

The amendment was lost and the motion carried.