WATERSIDERS’ CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16681, 2 March 1920, Page 7

WATERSIDERS’ CONFERENCE.

TO THE EDIIOE. ■Sir, —I have read with interest your sub-leader with reference to the Waterside Conference,’ and quite endorse the views expressed. There is not tho slightest doubt that the public have been the “chopping block’’ in between the watersiders and tho shipowners. The present claim for wages increase and improved conditions should be contested inch by inch, and all citizens of New Plymonth.who have the welfare of their port at heart should watch closely the proceedings. To my mind the conference should bo an open one, with the representatives of tho press present. So far I have seen no move on the part of cither the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce or tho public to have their views placed before the conference. At the present lime only one call for labour is made at New Plymouth daily, and as a consequence a ship arriving after the call, unless she pays waiting time, lies idle till next call. As a consequence the. public foot the bill. The watorsiders arc also after the control of tho industry in winch they are engaged—syndicalism pure and simple. So far as I am concerned I would not concede a penny per hour to the watersiders until they got back to normal working conditions. They do about 40 per cent, less now than they did in 1917. Of course the public have to pay tho piper, and so long as they fail to take an intelligent interest in these, matters sq long will they have to pay. The proper remedy of course is tho abolition of casual labour and. the employment of permanent labour on the waterfront, hut up to tho present neither the watersiders nor the, employers can see that permanency of employment will do away with most of tho present evils on the waterfront. If every employer of labour and the public will remember that the wages paid on the waterfront govern tho whole economic position of tho Dominion they might realise the necessity of taking action, and until they do they will he bludgeoned by both parties. To my mind' the. local Chamber of Commerce should go through the demands, call evidence as to how they will affect the port and freights, and then send a representative to Wellington to carry out their views. Non-representation will moan that New Plymouth will have to fall in line with conditions that might not suit the, port. Surely the merchants of New Plymouth are alive to their responsibiltics?—l am. etc., BULLROPE.