WHARF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 8

WHARF LABOUR.

THE DEVON STRIKE TROUBLE.

HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION.

At last night 8 meeting of tho Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. H: L. Nathan moved:

'"lhat in view of the agreement that exists botween tho shipping companies, Harbour Board, and watersido workers, the board take into consideration and determine what action should be followed to mark the board's disapproval of tho casual workers in objecting to work tho salved cargo ox the stranded steamer Devon on Monday. September 1, 1913,"

Spoaking to the motion, Mr. Nathan said that the permanent staff had been punished for tho stand they took up whon asked to work tho Devon's cargo. Why did tho board overlook tho stand taken up by a gang of casual workers m objecting to work the Awaroa on Monday, September 1. Ho understood that four men had refused to work tho Awaroa, and had been sont to other work, permanent men taking thoir place. By whose authority was this course taken? He.would like to know why these men were not put to tho test of refusing to work tno Awaroa by tho oxecutive of the board—(The chairman: They were.) —and what was the reason tho executive did not make an attempt to secure other casual men from the labour engaging room bofore deciding to roplaco the gang that objected with a gang of permanent labourers ?

The chairman: They did. Your information is quite wrong. Sir. Nathan went on to contend that the exeeutire was not prepared to put tho casual men to tlio samo test that they put tho permanent hands to. The course adopted by tho casuals in this caso was another instance that the present agreement between tho board and tho waterside workers was not worth the paper it was written oil, and it was now for the board to consider seriously tho advisability of cancelling it.

Mr. M. Cohen seconded tho motion pro forma.

The chairman (Mr. If. Fletcher) said that Mr. Nathan's statements wore quito inaccurate. Ho said that tho foreman had pone to tho engaging-room, and out of about 120 men there not one would go to work. He asked what punishment Mr. Natlian suggested should bo meted out. The agreement would expire in about two months' time.

Mr. J. Trevor Tegretted that the matter had been brought up again. The incidont had taken place a month ago, and if anything were to be done it should havo been done then.

After some discussion, in which it was apparent that the general feeling of the board was against the motion, Mr. Nathan decided to withdraw it.