"MEMBERS ONLY?"

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1579, 24 October 1912, Page 5

"MEMBERS ONLY?"

REQUEST BY WATERSIDERS. TO rtADIiOUH BOARD, CHAIRMAN'S POINTED RLPLT. An item on the order paper of the Wellington Harbour Hoard's monthly meeting la-t night indicated that Ihr board had consented tn receive a deputation from tile Waterside Workers' Union re closing '.if men's waiting room in "X" store liuilding between hours of engagement of labour. The deputation duly arrived, and consisted of Mes-o-s. G. G. Farland, secretary of the union, (i. Bruce, assistant secretary, and U. Eeidy. The Watersidcrs' Grievance. Mr. Farland, who was the first speaker, said (hat tho union desired to bring under the notice of the board the condition of tho loom. It was never washed, was not sufficiently ventilated, and was not comfortable enough for the men. The union contended that the board should run the room' properly or do away with it altogether. Mr. Farland pointed out that in (he present condition of affairs, any unemployed person (not a member of the union, and perhaps not n waterside worker) might cnino into the room and commingle, with the others, and the union would have no power to eject such a person. This led to nu unsatisfactory state of affairs. In the Company of a "Sharper." Tie instanced a recent case or a young man (a member of the union) who had been earning poor wages for some weeks, and then by better fortune drew tho sum of .£5. fie got into tho company of a "sharper" in tho waiting room, and lost his .£5. The union contended that, during ' the time that the shed was not in uso it should he closed, and that it should be placed under the control of the union, whose organisation was powerful enough to control its men. They contended that they should have the control of their own men in that room, and that tho board should place the words, "Members only" on tho door. This would enable them to keep out undesirables. Owing to tho alteration in tho gaming laws, numbers of these men came down there, and young fellows fell into their hands with evil results. ' Mr. Rcidy spoke from the view of tho men who occupied the room. Uo urged the board to consider the main question of closing tho room between tho hours for engagement of labour. Statements Incorrect. The chairman (Mr. IX. Fletcher), in reply,.said that tho board were always willing to meet the men and look into any grievance. He would like to say right away, however, that several of Mr. Farluml's statements were not correct. Tho wharfinger had just informed him (Mr. Fletcher) that, the room was washod out every Saturday afternoon and disinfected. In regard to the exclusion of "undesirables," Mr. Munro had (old him (Mr. Farland) that, if any undesirables wero I pointed out, they would be quickly ejected, but as yet not a single one, had been pointed out. As far as the control of tho room went, the union prauVionlly had the matter in their own hands. Tho chairman then went: on to refer to the condition upon which the union had been given permission to hold meetings. "You ( violated Hint condition," said the chairman, "when you took it upon yourself to announce that a 'meeting would be held nl an hour outside the time granted." Mr. Farland: The position was a veryhard one. "Union Should Have Acted Honourably," The chairman replied that it. did not matter. They should have come to tho board, and the board would have met them in the matter. The uso of tho room had been granted to them on certain conditions, and they should have acted honourably by the board. Referring to the question of gambling, t.ho chairman said that if anyone were found gambling they would be put out. As u matter of fact, members of the union took part in the gambling, and the union would not assist the board by giving names. Was not there gambling and fighting in the room that morreing? Did not Mr. Farland know about it? Mr. Farland said he had no knowledge of it. < The chairman, continuing, said that the hoard could not entertain the question of setting the room aside for members of the union only, and he gave various reasons for this. Members of th* deputation were then subjected to questions from all round tho table. One of. these questions was: "Is your union registered under the Arbitration Act?" Tho Board Laughed. Mr. Farland: No. Ifs a. froe body under the Federation of Labour. But there's no need for (ho board to be frightened at that. The board laughed collectively. When the deputation was withdrawing, tho chairman pointed out to thorn that tho main question had been left severely alone. 'Hint was the question of closing between hours for engagement of labour. Information was next ascertained from l.h« wharfinger (Mr. Munro) that tho room was swept every nijjht and washed and disinfected once a week. During tho discussion that followed, Mr. Cohen expressed the opinion that it was the board's duty to see that thero was proper supervision where such.a largo crowd of men were concerned.

Mr. Darnell and other members assured Hio chairman of their support in the attitude which he hod taken.

Messrs. Jones, Freolh, Macfarlane, M'Ewan. Trevor, and Ilarknpss alsp look part in the discussion.

The chairman, in reply, said that if the union really wanted to put gambling down they would have formed a vigilance committee to assist the caretaker. He pointed out, however, the great difficulties that lay in the way of putting: down gambling.

Finally, the request of the deputation was referred to the Wharves and Accounts Committee to report \jto- a future meeting.

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