LABOUR MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 17937, 31 January 1917, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS

WORK ON THE WATERFRONT,

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, January 30

Conditions on the waterfront are reported to be becoming-more unsatisfactory. This morning men did not present themselves for engagement at 7.45. It is understood that they desire an alteration in the hours from 8 to 9 o’clock. Men were afterwards picked up for boats which arrived later. A call was made for jabour to work the Home steamers, the gangs from which were dismissed yesterday, but none were obtained. The American steamer Edward Luckenbach, with a cargo of kerosene, also experienced trouble, a dispute arising as to the rate of pay, the men claiming that she was an oil steamer and that they were entitled to 2/- an hour Instead of 1/10. The employers disagreed, and work was stopped. Later the employers found that the vessel was an oil steamer under the agreement, and a gang was engaged at the terms demanded. Imperial meat was going aboard one vessel at much below the usual rate, and the result was that many hundred carcases were not .disposed of to-day, and it will be impossible to discharge them frbm the trucks till to-morrow.

STATEMENT BY EMPLOYERS.

WELLINGTON, January 30'

The employers to-night, issued, a. lengthy statement, dealing with the waterside dispute, and reviewing; the recent conference proceedings. The employers had reached the following decisions: That, having regard' to the'representatlons made by other classes of employers as to the serious effect of any increase in wages to waterside workers would have upon other trades and industries, that in view of the comparatively high wages now being earned by waterside workers, that as the adoption of working conditions of the nature asked would so hamper shipping operations as to seriously interfere with the shipping trade of the dominion, the employers’ conference has reluctantly arrived at the decision that it cannot take the responsibility' of increasing wages or altering the present working conditions unless so directed by the Conciliation Council or the Arbitration Court, In view of the above decision, and of the definite refusal of the New Zealand Waterside Federation to have the matter dealt with under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and as that is the only means provided by law for dealing with such a situation as has arisen, the employers’ conference has decided to take immediate steps to cite the New Zealand Waterside Federation in accordance with the provisions of that Act,' and that, if the Federation so desires, the emoployers will agree to expert assessors being appointed as provided by Section 112 of the Act. Following are some typical examples of the improved conditions demanded by the Federation: — i

j New Present Demands. Practice, Gangs at hatch 2 3 to 4 Carcases mutton in hoist 25 35 Lambs .. 35 60 Boxes butter 30 45 Crates cheese 10 24 Quarters beef 12 18 to 20

The result of the demands for working conditions, if acceded to, .would be to reduce the output by one-third to one-half, and would require approximately 25 per cent, more men to do the work.. The following examples show the wages per hour before the war increase granted on February Ist, 1916, and the new claims respectively in each c?ass mentioned: —

GENERAL CARGO,

Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin — Ordinary hours, pre-war, 1/5: February, 1/S; new claims, 212; overtime work, 2/2, 2/6, 3/-; special overtime, 2/3, 2/9, 4/4. Minor Ports —Pre-war, 1/8, 1/11, 2/2; other items, same as above. FROZEN CARGO.

Auckland —Ordinary hours, 2/3, 2/4%, 2/6; overtime work, 3/3, 3/5, 3/7; special overtime, 3/3, 3/6, 5/-. Wellington, Dunedin and Lyttelton— Ordinary hours, 1/9, 2/-, 2/6; overtime work, 2/9, 3/1, 3/7; special overtime, 2/11, 3/5, 5/-. The new claims for shovelling coal are 2/5 ordinary, 3/3 overtime, and 4/7 special: carrying coal in baskets, 3/-, 4/- and 6/-; cement, superphosphates, etc., 2/5, 3/2, and 4/10.

The statement deals in detail witli the earnings of the men at the different ports, and concludes as follows: —An indication of what the increases already granted to waterside workers during the war period and the demands now made will cost the general public, may be gained from the following cost of the increase granted: February, 1916, £130,000 per annum; cost of present wages demands, £250,000 per annum; extra cost of proposed new working conditions, £150,000 per annum; total, £530,000. In other words, what is proposed, is that each worker on the water, front of the dominion should have his earning power increased, Including the increases granted in February, 1916; by £2 per week.