LABOUR ON WHARVES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 6

LABOUR ON WHARVES.

/THE CONFERENCE,

The conference convened by tho Prime Minister (the Right' Hon. W. Masscy) of 'representatives <of the leading Harbour Boards of the Dominion sat yesterday in tho Government Whip's room at Parliament Buildings, from 11 a.m. to' 4 p.m. Those present were: Messrs. G. 11. Gunson, XV. E. Hutchison, W. B. Leyland, and H. B. Burnett (engineer), Auckland; R. Fletcher, C. W. Jones, and R. A. Wright, Wellington; H. E. Moller, G. B. Bullock, and J. Blair Mason (secretary and engineer). Otago; R. Moore, A. Kaye, and! Cyrus Williams (secretary and engineer), Lyttolton Harbour Board; also Mr. W. Ferguson, late secretary of tho Wellington Harbour Board, and Mr. F. W. Rowley, Secretary for Labour. Mr. Massoy presided. A proposal was submitted that thcro should bo established 111 the .-four principal ports a commission or committee constituted of representatives of tho following interests:—Harbouy Board, 1; ocean-going vessels, 1; intercolonial vessels, 1: coastal'vessels, 1; coal workers, 1; Railway Department, 1; waterside labourers, '2; and a chairman representing the Government (a stipendiary magistrate), making a total of 9. This was discussed at length, but was not approved. The following resolutions were passed:— .

"(1) That this.<conference of Harbour Board delegates disapproves of any proposal that involves the constitution of a new authority or commission to deal with the question of waterside labour, either ashore or afloat, being of opinion that if any steps aro ultimately deemed advisable to change or improve the present conditions, tho responsibility for administering the same shall remain or be vested in the respective Harbour Boards, who shall be the controlling authorities, thereby obviating anything involving dual control of the business of tho ports. , . "(2) That in tho opinion of this conference of Harbour Board delegates, it is desirable that the Government should introduco an amendment of tlio Harhours Act, enlarging to the necessary extent the present powers of Harbour Boards, so as to enable hoards, by arrangement with snipowners, to carry on the business of stevedores, or license persons or firms so to "(3) That as the emplovmont of a largo proportion of waterside 'Workers as casuals leads to industrial difficulties, this conference is of opinion that wherever possible waterside workers should bo permanent employees of either the Harbour Boards or the shipowners; and, further, that it is desirable that superannuation should bo arranged for such employees."