HARBOUR BOARD WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23213, 10 June 1937, Page 12

HARBOUR BOARD WORKERS

CONCILIATION -PROCEEDINGS COMPLAINT BY EMPLOYEES BREACH OF FAITH ALLEGED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 9. The allegation that there existed in Auckland an organisation the object of which was to hold up industry and discredit the Labour Government was made by Mr J. Roberts at yesterday's sitting of the Conciliation Council, when the New Zealand Harbour Boards' employees' dispute was under consideration. In the course of some straight talk following the announcement that the boards' representatives would not"agree to the 40-hour week. Mr Roberts charged the employers' representatives with a breach of faith, and intimated that if the conciliation proceedings failed the boards would not meet their staffs on the next occasion, but would have to meet the New Zealand Federation of Labour The statement that the employers could not agree to the 40-hour week was made in the afternoon by Mr W. J. Gardner, of Wanganui. secretary of the Employers' Association. He stated that the assessors had had a meeting on Monday, and had further considered the matter during the luncheon adjournment.

Mr Roberts: That's not conciliation. He added that the workers had not held a similar meeting. Mr Roberts said he had been informed that the harbour boards were behind the recent objections that had been made in the matter. He alleged the existence in Auckland of the organisation mentioned. "If you are in that kind of push you will have another think coming." he said. "I did not think it would reach public bodies, but if it is in them, well and good: we know where we are going. Mr Gardner: The assessors on this side know nothing of this body in Auckland. Mr Roberts: Will Mr Barnett deny that they were down here talking to him last week, because they told me thev did? Mr Gardner: I don't think they did. Mr Barnett (Wellington Board) said he never saw anyone from Auckland or Wellington. Mr Roberts said that on Ofte hand it was suggested that the clerical workers should be organised in their industry, while a move was being made to support an action in the court that clerical workers should be organised outside their industry. "What side of the fence are you falling off? " he asked Mr Barnett. Mr Barnett replied: There are lots of things we could say. Mr Roberts: You are not playing the game by these men. Mr Lane (workers' assessor, Ly'ttelton) said he hoped that a settlement they could be proud of would be brought about. Some blunt expressions were used by the workers' representatives regarding the refusal of the 40-hour week, and at a later stage Mr Roberts said his side was of opinion that the employers wanted to go to the court. "If that is the idea, don't beg the ciuestion," he said. "Just say so. If you come to that decision we will have to make up our minds. We are a young union, and there are a lot of big brothers, and we* may walk into their arms. We established this union mainly at your request. You have committed a serious breach of faith with us. You meet us and you quibble round the whole question, and we don't think you are attempting to meet us. We have a thing you can't do without —that is, labour power. When you buy cranes you pay the price, but when you are dealing with humans you treat us very much offhand. This js a business deal, and it would be a payable thing to treat us in a business way. If you come back as you did with the hours proposal, it is a waste of time." Mr Roberts said that if there was a second meeting of the employers they would not meet the present workers' representatives. They would meet the New Zealand Federation of Labour. "These people might not go to the court at all. We can walk to the Federation of Labour and cut all these differences in one act. We are keeping our word with you people, and you have definitely broken it with us." He warned the boards not to think the men were in a cleft stick. After the employers had retired Mr Gardner announced that the assessors thought there was a possibility of an agreement being come to, and the council adjourned till to-day. Wages were the first subject discussed when the Conciliation Council resumed to-day. " I have met dairy farmers ana they ofTercd a 10 per cent, increase." said Mr Roberts, "but you people offer a 10 to 15 per cent, decrease. If that is the best you can do we can't agree to it." Mr Gardner said that Mr Roberts had taken the Wellington conditions as the basis for the whole of New Zealand, and the conditions were not applicable to all the other ports. The commissioner remarked that in the event of no further offer being made in regard to wages it did not appear to be of much value for the council discussing wages The difference was too wide to be reconciled, and the question would have to be referred to the cpurt. The council then set to work discussing jobs in relation to each port separately, but the discussion ended in a declaration by Mr Roberts that it was a case of a blank refusal to meet the men. No progress had been made at the luncheon adjournment. When the council resumed m the afternoon a statement was issued by Mr Gardner on behalf of the employers, denying the union representatives suggestion that the employers were stonewalling. The employers' asses:sors felt that the present proceedingr should be adjourned, and in the meantime arrangements would be mf'de for a discussion at each port between the representatives of the employers and the, employees with the object ol setting out in full detail the agreed-upon schedule of conditions of work and other matters relevant to the dispute such to form the bones of a separate schedule for each oort and to be included in a composite agreement. No agreement was reached and the hearing was adjourned until to-morrow.