SUPERANNUATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1136, 25 May 1911, Page 5

SUPERANNUATION.

HARBOUR BOARD PROPOSALS. REPORT ORDERED. The Harbour Board last evening dealt briefly with the question of establishing a superannuation scheme for its employees. The following motion was proposed by the chairman:— That it is desirable that a scheme of superannuation for the employees of the board bo established, and that with this end'in view the board obtain an actuarial report on the whole question showing what respective contributions from the board and (ne employees are necessary to afford reasonable, benefits to Iho contributors as well as to make tho fund financially sound. Mr. Fletcher said it had elways seemed to him on inhumane way to treat cm-; ployces who had passed their lest years in the service, of the board to turn thein. adrift without any consideration- whalso■ever when their working days were over. Superannuation seemed the only way in. which the board could assist those who retired through sickness, crippled, or as,a. result, of old ngp. The last Local Bodies Superannuation. Bill which passed through the House was not very .satisfactory, but many local bodies were now taking, the matter up. In the speaker's opinion,_ it deserved the consideration of the Wellington Harbour Board. Tho motion proposed was intended to give, it def-nito shape. Mr. Cohen asked if the chairman cculd supply any information in regard to tho National Provident, scheme. The chairman replied that he thc.ught the, national scheme applied only to -people whoso incomes did not reach i.l'oo a. year, Mr. Jones said he would support the, motion, although ho was not save that I the number of the hoard's employees would justify the inauguration of a super-' aunuatiou scheme. The Labour View, Mr. Hindmarsh staled that ho would I like to sec some more comprehensive pro- j posal introduced than had kcem •outlined by the chairman, A proper scheme would take account of insurance against sickness and unemployment. It .should extend to (he wharf labourers. There were 16 or 17 employers who employed men on the lrharvw. It seemed inadequate to deal with the men of onoi employer only. The'hoard should take I into consideration the question of being! the only employer—of eliminating the, other lfi and dealing with this matter in| a comprehensive and proper style. At I the least a comprehensive report should be obtained. Kvcn if not adopted in toto, | it might lead to a very profitable discussion. Everyone must agreo that casual I intermittent labour must 'demoralise the 1 workers 1

"I know," remarked Mr. Hindmarsh. breaking off at (hi? stage, "that I shall receive want sympathy and support from sonic cynical,members of this.board. But nevertheless I shall persist, while I am a member, in raising this question nt| every opportunity. 1 will at nil erental try to deal with tins problem of wharf! labour." •

Concluding;, Mr. Hindmarsh moved as an amendment:—

"That it is desirable that a report bo brought down upon the whole subject of wharf labour, including insurance against sickness and unemployment, and generally dealing with 1 the matter." * The amendment was not seconded, and lapsed. Casual Employees. Mr. M'Ew.in asked whether the chairman would approve giving casual employees a. chance to join the scheme. Mr. 'Fletcher staled that the aclunrr consulted would lie .instructed to devise, some >means, if possible, by .which... the casual workers could l>o brought ..under ■ the operation of the. scheme. There were, in any case over MO permanent Vcru'-. ployces to consider, bul, in addiHb'nvtlie'ro were 400 or 500- men, "permanent; casuals," some of whom had been in tho'' service of the board for 25 years, to whom every possible consideration should be extended. To deal'with the matter on tho lines suggested by Mr. Hindmarsh,' added the chairman, was impossible. ' Mr. Frceth asked if tho proposal liefore the meeting had been inspired-by Ilia, staffer emanated from the chairman personally. Mr. Fletcher replied that the proposal had been raised by himself five years previously. ' . , ' Mr. Cobb said he favoured the scheme, but .thought its inauguration should be delayed until tho harbour charges had been reduced to n point that would make, them'lower than at any other'big port in the Dominion. Mr. Cobb sought to introduce an amendment based on 'his view, but'llia chairman ruled it out of order, as a direct negative. ; The Cheapest Port? ■Referring to Mr. Cobb's statement, Mr! Fletcher averred Ihat Wellington was the cheapest port, in the Dominion. . ,' Mr.'Cobb: "You cught to' know, as chairman, but I had come to a different conclusion. Do yen mean to tell mo that charges arc lower hero; than at Auckland, for instance?" -! Tha rhninnan: "Absolulely." ; Mr. Cobb: "In every particular''" The, chairman: "In every particular." Mr. Fletcher ' added that, later on, in committee, he would explain to Mr. Cobb "how ho had arrived at tho conclusion stated. Mr. Cobb said that if the chairman would show .him that .Wellington was the ■ehsapest port in the Dominion, he would vote .for tho proposal. Mr. Cohen: "The man who pays is the. man who knows, and ho says it is not tho cheapest port." Eventually the chairman's proposal wa» carried on the voices Subssqiiontly, Mr. Hindmarsh gave nolice that, i! nex; mceling, ho would propose the following resolution:— ■ "That (he, Harbour Board .undertake the loading and unloading of ships trading to Wellington.and gen? orally to perform all work required to lie done at and on the Wellington wharves except cartage."