LABOUR ON WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 9

LABOUR ON WHARF.

MR. A. D. KENNEDY'S ATTITUDE.

Mr. A. D. Kennedy, tho Wellington Harbour Board representative of tho payers of dues other than on ships, called a meeting of his constituents .yesterday foe tho purpose of discussing with them tho proposal to sot up it commission if or arranging/ iilldtting;>iincl controlling labour 011 tho. wharf. Tho meeting was hold at the Chamber of Commerce at 3 p.m., and tho attendance showed that'tho question is' 0110 of great interest at tho present time. In will be rememborcd that the circular issued from tho Primo Minister's office in roferenco to tho matter suggested a commission of nine members representing tho following interests:—Harbour Beard 1 1, ocean-going vessels 1, intercolonial vessels 1, coastal vessels 1, coal-workers I, Railway Department ], waterside labourers 2, and a chairman representing the Government (Stipendiary Magistrate) 1; total, 9. At tho commencement .of tho meeting yesterday, Mr. Kennedy stated that ho agreed with tho idea of tho commission, but thought, that the payors of dues other than dues on ships should have direct representation when it was set up, as their interests were very large. Ho had called his constituents .tf(.-ether with the-' object of laying,his views before them and of receiving suggestions. Sinco the start of the present industrial trouble ho had been on the side of tho casual labourers, who had como to their assistance, and in furtherance of this ho had given notice that at the next meeting of the board, on December 17, ho would movo tho following resolution: — "1. That all casual wharf labourers who havo worked for the board sinco tho commencement *of tho strike shall contimto to ho offered preference of employment after the .striko i 3 over, if, in tho opinion of tho wharfinger and labour foreman, they are satisfactory workers and of good character. • "2. That all additional wharf labourers juib on from this date must produco evidence that they aro members'of'the Arbitration Union." When the resolution was read, it was thought by somo of those present that any discussion should not be open to tho Press, and tho reporters withdrew. Mr. Kennedy stated after the. meeting that there was nothing further to communicate to tho papers.