THE TROUBLE ON THE WATERFRONT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 6

THE TROUBLE ON THE WATERFRONT.

We continue to receive a great 'many complaints concerning the position on the wharves and more especially relating to the behaviour of the Bed .Federation element. : Acts of intimidation-' directed against Arbitrationists are reported and generally • speaking there is a disturbing feeling of intecu'ritj and unrest, Some of the Arbitrationists complain .bitterly of their treatment at the '■hands o-fthe Harbour Board; and state that they receive scant consideration from certain foremen, it has become quite apparent that the whole position roust be reviewed by the Harbour. Board and .the shipping companies and the fullest justice done to the men who came to the assistance of tho community and relieved the port of the paralysis which had .set in as the result of the recent strike-. The great body of citizens, in town and country alike are in thorough sympathy 'with the determination expressed at the close of tho strike to give preference oi employment to those workers who saw the folly of prolonging 3 wasteful and useless struggle, and assisted to open up -work on the wharves;, and they _ expect to see every reasonable consideration shown to those men. In face of the frequent complaints made it seems clear that tho Sarbour Bo?wd especially _is failing in its dutjr in this -direction, and it is the business of,the members of the Board to probe this matter to tho bottom and to deal drastically with anyone who may be found to have acted in a manner contrary to tho Board's expressed determination, So far as w& can gather, Captain Munro appears to have done his best to ensure that the preference condition shall be given effeefc to. but despite his efforts cases' have been brought under our notice which go ■ to show that there is a lack of sympathy in certain quarters with the policy laid down by the Board, and that it has on occasions cither been sot at defiance or ignored- On the ■ siigh-test'excuse,'we arc informed, Arbitrationists have been passed: over : and Rod Fedcr&tioiiists employed, ■ and the Board should see that these complaints are_ not allowed tp be . glossed -over without full investigation. •

■ So far as we can see the most satisi factory solution of the trouble at the waterfront is the employment of a substantial body _ oi permanent labour, thus reducing the proportion of casual'labour which is at present So' overwhelmingly large. It should not be' a very difficult task to ascertain approximately the minimum rvuinber of cargo £vnd coal workers that could bo found regular employment by the combined shipping companies. It would be necessary of ■ course for the various companies to act togother in the matter bo as to ensure that at any time when a particular, shipping company might be uuablc to find eaiployment for its. full quota of permanent employees they would bo absorbed by the other companies. There might at times be a little difficulty in adjusting matters in this way, for wharf-work is uncertain, but this trouble would be mora than compensated for by the improved conditions which could be expected to follow as the result of introducing a substantial body of permanent wharf-workers. Preference, it may be taken for granted, would be given'to Arbitration unionists, but the new plan would afford a direct incentive, to casual wharfworkers to qualify by good «onduei and industry for a place in th«f» ranks of the permanent body as v«y ! eafteica occurred or as the growth of the port warranted aa increase in the number of permanent hands engaged. With the prospect of regular employment and a regular wage, the shipping companies could expect to attract .to the wharves a moresettled class of worker and one less! likely to be easily led into the folly of industrial strife. The matter we believe has received some consideration from the shipping companies, and it is. to be sincerely hoped that-

a practicable scheme \vill be devised. In the meantime, however, every possible cafe must be taken to see that the Arbitrationist- workers receive the preference to which their services entitle them.