WATERSIDE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 897, 17 August 1910, Page 6

WATERSIDE WORKERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ARBITRATION COURT CRITICISED. DIRECT LABOUE EEPEESENTATION. (Bi Teleeraph-l'Mja Association.! Christchurch, August 16. The annual conference of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation was opened at Lyttelton to-day. The following dolegates were present:—Messrs. J. Keed (president), W. Bate, H. Voyoe, and P. Lurch (Lyttelton), D. Casey and D. M'Carthy (Napier), W. Cass (Gisborne), B. Barkley (Tiniaru), E. Canham, W. Webb, N. Castell, F. Stanley, and J. Sadler (Auckland), T. Lovcgrove (Wanganui), W. Morris audA. Tuiien (Dunedin), J.. Stewart (Westport), J. Goodall and J. Jackson (Greyniouth), f. Curtice, J. Doudall, G. G. Terry, and T. Smith (Wellington;. • . After. discussion it was decided, by a large majority, that the press be admilted

The president, in his address, said that in opening- the fourth annual conference he was pleased to note the very keen interest displayed by the various branches in tho affairs of the federation. There were also in the various unions indications of a strong spirit of unity, which reflected great credit upon members and their officers-. . During the year several branches had obtained new awards-main-ly on the lines of previous awards, but in no .instance . had a..material .advance been niade. Eather had it been the intention of the Court to farther load awards with harsh and unjust restrictions.- In the light'of its late actions the conclusion could not bo lesisted. that it was the fixed policy of the Court to grant.no improved conditions to workers, and not to give an unbiased judgment on new claims on their merits/ The memorandum attached by Judge Sim to the Auckland waterside workers' award to the effect that members were responsible for broached cargo, and that the union must act the part of police spies to put down broaching of cargo, was the most harsh and arbitrary order l ever attached to any award. Trade on tho forefiont was,-generally speaking, at normal, but the tendency of the surplus of all trades to drift into the various waterside workers' unions kept their ranks crowded anil the earning power of members low. The remedy for this was a problem that should receive tho conference's most serious consideration. lie could not report that they had mado any. headway with the. Government on matters urged by previous conferences, though they had repeatedly made representations, and they were convinced that it was.:tb9 policy of Parliament as at present constituted to concede them nothing materially at present by legislation for. their bettermeut, and they were convinced that the- workers' only hope was direct labour representation.

The report urged thut the best means be considered to assist the newly-lormud Labour, parfy in the House.

Messrs. Canham, Jackson, and Voyee were appointed « .sub-cummittee to drW up standing.orders..

The report of the organising secretary (Mr. D. MTaren,, M.P.), stated.that ho found tho unions at present connected with the federation were in good working order. He found in the case of several unions that considerable difficulty existed in getting regular, meetings of their members, and that friction was sometimes caused owing to officers being- appointed at small meetings. .He had made a compilation of awards and agreements, for the purpose of trying to get the awards' under which the . various unions wove working terminated at, the same time, and' then, by means of' a conference, to oiuleavout to urrango ono.. complete scheduled agreement covering the whole industry, and the whole of the ports within the .Dominion.'...The-report was adopted.

The -report of the secretary (Mr., H. Voycc) stated that the demand for labour aloifg ;the waterfront for tho past twelve months had not been as keen as tor the corresponding,.periods,of:,tho,ipreceding ycari i AH-along-the -unions had reported a slackness of work, and, as a consequence, several unions had gone back in membership. Two new unions had been one'at the ; Bluff and the other at, Oamaru.. The Government returns showed that the membership in January last wa5,4240. Of these, capitation had been paid on 2737, leaving a balance of. 1503 members, representing, a sum of .£75 3s. Something, definite should be done in the payment of capitation, as under the. present system it was* practically impossible to carry out the work of organisation. It was suggested that the capitation of each union should bo assessed at a shilling a member per annum, as by these means it would be possible for the larger unions to assist the smaller unions of the federation.

Th report was discussed, and it >fns agreed that printed forms be' obtained, with the object of getting, the secretaries of unions to regularly forward returns showing tbe membership' and, finance of their unions. ■ . ' ■

It was further resolved that an. organiser be sent to the new southern unions to endeavour to porsuadn them to affiliate with the federation. ■

The report was adopted. : . j The treasurer presented the balancesheet, which was considered, in committee.

■ A proposal to short? , .! '-he ordoi- payer was lost by 0 votes to 10. ■ ■" ' . ' .

Mr." Welib (Auckland) then submitted the first remit that a clause be inserted in the Arbitration Act giving ■ uncondi?. tional preference to unionists, thereby relieving the president or commissioner of discretionary power in granting, or with-, holding preference. ' ' .■ . In the discussion, the position of the Labour, party iu regard to the Auckland East by-election was incidentally introduced, and the conference went into committee in order that the Auckland delegates might place tho whole matter, be-, fore the meeting. The conference adjourned till to-morrow.