N Z. WATERSIDERS' FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16415, 8 January 1919, Page 5

N Z. WATERSIDERS' FEDERATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The anuuai conference or" the. New Zealand WuUireKl-eKi' i'eaer&uou was opened at jU.iO a.m. yesivruay in tlic Uoiougii council ChuniOirn, ijyittiioii, Messrs J. criover and J. ■huoerta, president and secretary respectively of 'the iteration, acting in then- oiucial capacitioi. xli© axuhatcd unions were represented as follows; —Auckland, Messrs C. \\ oavcr, O. Williams, and. U. U. i'ariand; Gisborno, Mr tx. Jtl.. Hurt; Mapior, sir U. McvJuriti/; yv'anganui, Mr J. xMiiilipsoii; ise-vv I'lymouth, Alt H. i'itzgeraid; Wellington, Messrs \V r . Currie, E. Cunham, L. Trcmayne, and J. Frew; Picton, Mr J. Bunt; Grey mouth, Mr il. A irk; Lytteiton. Messrs J. i'lood and E. Laiigley; Timarti, Mr VV. Craig; Oamaru, Mr C. Symons; Port Chalmers, Messrs A. and N. Campbell; Duncciiu, Mr W. Morris; liiull, Jlr U. E;:stiake. Tho Mayor of Lyttelton, having been introduced to tho delegates by Mr (Jlover, said that it afforded bim muicli pleasure to give them a welcome to Lyttelton. He was glad that Lyttelton had been chosen as the meeting pluce for tho conference, which he waa euro would accomplish much useful work in tlio direction of bettering the lot of a. laige section of industrial workers. Mr Glovor, on behalf of the delegates, thinked the Mayor for hi 6 kind welcome. In 1910 a conference of waterside workers had taken place at Lyttelton, but on that occafion the Mayor of the port had not officially welcomed them. Tho object of tho conference w;:e to get into closer touch with the ideala of those engaged in waterside work in Dominion ports, and to obtain a moro intimate knowledge of the conditions under which they worked. Plans for carvying the ideals of the Federation into effect had been delayed owing to tbe wider issues involved in this country' 6 war efforts, but ho believed that fne time had now arrived wheii further progress would be made in connexion with the material improvement of working conditions on the waterfront. .Mr E. E. Langiey. president of the Lyttelton Vatersiders' Union, on behalf of his Union, welcomed the d-elegutes to the port. He stated that he was pleased to seo such a representative Gathering of .waterside workers assembled at Lyttcltou. Ho hoped tho delegates would enjoy their etay, and that they would bo favourably impressed witli tho Canterbury port. It was to be hoped that the conference, during its deliberations, would aim at bottor economic conditions for waterside workers particularly, and other workers generally. Tho chairman thanked Mr Langiey and members of the Lyttelton Union for their hearty welcome to the delegates, and then opened th© conference. Various (onua'ttees were appointed, after which the conference adjourned' until 9.30 a.m. to-day.