PREFERENCE ON THE WHARVES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1968, 27 January 1914, Page 4

PREFERENCE ON THE WHARVES.

• made at a recent meeting of -the Harbour Board by Mn> Jl; 'l r i,etcher (Chairman) regarding employment on the wharf arc challenged by a member of the executive of'the ncfr Waterside Union, and by in] c fntafcive of one of tin? k-ael-ing shipping companies, in interviews published in our news columns iu-uay. The principal miestion at isstic is whctlwr tho Harbour Board has adhered to the terms of its own resolution to give preference of employment to/men who came forward and offered,, their services during the .'strike period. It is unnecessary to repeat here the details 'advanced by tho. union .representative, but it is Quite clear that a case has beeft made out which demands an answer. ". Mn. FLETCHEr., in his statement- to ' the board, relied upon a tabulated statement showing that from day to day so many ''old hands'' and so many ''new hands" were employed by the board.'. '-.Against this it is now'alleged ■ tli.it "uew_ hands " in : the boards piassificatiou me.nnt. simply..lands who were ne\v in the board's employment." _ If'this''is.; so, 'the classification' do4s not take sufficient account of the "men.- : to ■ whom,v,the board guaranteed preference. ■■ / Another allegation which demands 1 at tontion-is' to.the effect that the newmen;'.'who were promised preference, often gc.Mpoor jobs, which finish': in.r.n, hour or two/ while-the -old handsfget th---• steady.; work/and the overtime. :^A/- reply, to thwe'.'stated inents, 1 'an.d -n{ninre'complete explana-:l|oii-<pf/thfi'-p'osilipn.»shonld he'given hy'-.th" JI !.i !';:iir Jtaard.v authorities,' .in.order to■ clear ...the,niatfev up and :sn,tisfy.;tli<'.. public. - T!i<> only other '(letrtil-'ihaineed,besitK'ntjowd at .the iiiiume'nt-j.isSthn suggestion-,, that" some of Use m"n. entitled to prefci'ence •liaVftS'ne'glecled-.10 wear.; their badges, ; nmU;to' r seek-.employment.at the,.prop:'r, time.'.'- .Obviously, iiuso far as -this/is, llie; case,' the remedy?is. largely i iu ■!heir/own■ hands. : //v' ■■-