DOCKERS’ CLAIMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19869, 10 February 1920, Page 3

DOCKERS’ CLAIMS.

AN ELOQUENT ADVOCATE

By Telsgrftph— -P.Maa Association—-Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

LONDON, February 6.

Mr Ernest Bovin, the dockers’ organBer, and known as “The Dockers’ ■King s Counsel,” was applauded at the termination of a three days’ speech at the inquiry into dockers’ wages and conditions. Lord Shaw, commanding silence, said that lie was not surprised at the demonstration. Mr Bcvin denounced in the name of luiinanity the casual labour system. He submitted a model budget, with a minimum or 120s weekly for a family of live, ihe cmplojers estimated that the men's demand for sixteen shillings a day would cost ten millions Yearly. Mr Bovin argued that they were able to pay. He declared that shipping profits lor the first thirty-one months of the war amounted to £350,000,000. A Now lork docker was a hundred per cent better off. He declared that it was the duty of all shipping owners to ensure (.ockers a minimum subsistence based on live days’ pay weekly. Mr ticnin spoke of the tragedy the more breaking of a reaeui) caused ' a poor tamily. and. concluded that if the claim was refused the only alternative was to close the schools and reduce labour fodder to the animal basis. Society ought not to create aspirations tor the beautiful, denying the wherewithal to satisfy them. Better keep the workers in dark ignorance.