WATERSIDE LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15986, 31 January 1914, Page 5

WATERSIDE LABOUR.

THE CONFERENCE AND ITS RESULTS. The following report as to the result of tho conference of representatives from the Harbour Boards of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Otago, and tflie Prime Minister, at Wellington, to diecuss tho question of tho control of labour on tho wharves was presented' by Mr J. Blair Mason, secretary to tho Otago Harbour Board, at last night's meeting of that lxxlv "Tho Prime Minister submitted for consideration the following suggestions: That) in each of tho major ports thorn shall bo farmed a Etanding committee or commission of nine members representing tho following interests:—Harbour Board 1, oocan-go-ing vessels 1, intercolonial vessels 1, coastal vessels 1, ooal workers 1, Railway Department 1, waterside labourers 2, a chairman representing the Government (stipendiary magistrate) I; —total 9. The commission should determine tho total amount of casual labour required from month to month during caeh season of tho year, and employ that numiber of hands at a minimum weekly wage; waterside labour to be engaged from tho commission, and no outside casual labour to bo engaged by any person until the pa-nel is exhausted. Tho commission should _ inquire into and; adjudicate on all complaints against labourers and by labourers, and should have ample powers to keep lists purged of undesirables. The commission, should be tho employer, and pay tho men, recovering tho payments from tho persons to whom tho labour is supplied, together with an additional percentage to cover costs of management and to provide for tho payment of the guaranteed minimum wage if not earned; also superannuation scheme, accident insurance, and national provident scheme. The great object to bo gained bv tho proposed commission would bo to employ the men to tho best advantago_ with tho least loss of time, thereby ensuring a better and) more satisfied class of workers. — After lengthy discussion and deliberation ■ tho following resolutions were carried: —(l) That this conference of harbour board delegates disapproves of any proposal that involves tho constitution of a new authority or commission to deal with the question of waterside labour, cither ashore or afloat, being of opinion that if any steps are ultimately deeinccl advisable to change or improve the (present conditions tho responsibility for administering tho same shall remain or bo vested in the respective ha.rboiir boards, who shall be tho controlling authorities, thereby obviating anything involving dual control of the business of tho ports. (2) That; in the opinion of this conference of harbour board delegates, it, is desirable that, the Government should introduce an amendment of tho Harbours Act, enlarging to tho necessary, extent the present powers of harbour boards so a*s to enable harbour boards, by arrangement with ship-owners, to carry on the business of stevedores, or license persons or firms bo to <to. (3) That, as the employment of a largo proportion of waterside workers as casuals leads to industrial difficulties this confcron-co i 3 of opinion that, wherever practicable, waterside workers should bo permanent employees of either tho harbour 1 wards or the ship-owners; and 1 , further, that it is desirable that superannuation should bo arranged for such_ employers." Tho Chairman said that if anything was going to bo done it was to be carried out bv tho board. That was 1 practically all that was agreed to at tho conference. Mr Bullock moved that tho report bo received. The Prime Minister, he thought, had been trying to better the status of the waterside workers, but the scheme propounded had not met with tho favour of tho delegates. Waterside workers were looked upon as casual workers, and the Prime Minister's idea was to try to got their employment made permanent. So many difficulties had cropped up that tho conference came to the decision that nothing could be done in the meantime. In the last clause they would notice that the conference was of tho opinion that tho employment should be more rierrnanent, and that'superannuation should be arranged for 6uch employees. It -was a large question, and one that could not be decided by a conference of that sort, because there were so many difficulties in tho way. It would be a. mistake if a certain number of men could have employment on tho wharf before anybody else. " One day 50 men were wanted, and another day 200 were required. It would be impossible to have enough permanent men employed .to carry on tiio work.

Mr Belcher said it appeared to him that, with all duo regard for the Prime Minister and those assooiatcd with him in the direction of trying to do something to minimise tho number of casual workers, the Prime Minister had not yet properly defined just exactly what should bo done. His (Mr Belcher's) opinion had been expressed through the public press, and he would let that stand as it was for anyone who felt disposed to attack it. If anyone liked to attack it, or him, he would bo quite prepared to defend tho opinion ho hsd in the matter. It seemed to be altogether impracticable to have a certain number of men who would bo permanent mcii, and then have to depend upon others who might bo termed casual. It might bo a desire to do good, but so far as the waterside worker was concerned he did not put any tickets on what had been suggested by Mr Massey. Most' of tho unskilled labour which found itself " blotted out" in other directions gravitated to the places whore there was a possibility of earning money, and the wharves, which offered certain facilities and decent wages, were tho places they gravitated to. To limit the number of men who should have an opportunity of earning a crust upon tho wharves was to his mind altogether wrong and improper. Slo far as tho operations of harbour work woro concerned, ho quite agreed that the board phould control that class of, work which it "fanned out" to somebody else. He thought the board should undertake tho work and control of receiving and delivering of cargo after it left tho ship's slings. It should not bo passed over to a single individiial.

Mr Bullock remarked that tho conclusions arrived at in Wellington were very much borne out by Mr Bolchor's remarks." Tho motion was carried without dissent.