WHARF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2160, 28 May 1914, Page 6

WHARF LABOUR

MARGIN OF UNEMPLOYED tod mm mm S6HEMES TO ADJUST 'MATTERS. The veserl ijucsfcio-n of how to avoid Ui« collection at tbo wtawss of liioii in. «tic;h ftuuiksrs ihs to loafo rt vory lafgo iiiiurffli'i of sitisplj' of fabmt ■Over dfr •ffia.ni;}. anil ii.lso to avoid the liiirost- and liwsatisl'iKStwß GansWiueJit Upon the exiutenco eA tin's i>ig Ijotly ai f&ni partly uu,o.mv.iloy«fl, was discussed -at soiwrt 3c-ttßtti liy'lJao W«silhsgl-sii Harbour last wgbt, Certain fc«o»Mi»ndatwiis Mi. fecn hrouglit down by a spo-'.'inl sHli-effininitt.ee of tbe lroi-i'd,' nviit thtse wei'u fiiiisidcrftd in tftrji. A Housing spireme* Sir. 1?:, Hsteimx aiovcd t:lic first eomniciidntion:— "T-e rcqnogt .tjlw G:ov> ertojciit to Bitrodttee jegidatidii; .ajiietiiiinjj the Harbours Aete with -a view to S<Viii({ Wboiir boai-ds jiowtr to atqiiiro kiid for scltlemeiiit on ■svhich to estab> lisii hemes for Harho-rtr , li'qard .(;.as.iia ; ! wwlsers, mid, further-, that tlie boa*i ■bo aisked to a:p;p?iiiit a deputation ta wart on the Prime Slmfctcv ia sUßpwfe of such j'csotaiei)." Mr. J. G. Golibe eaid that syfen in& mft-vfld tiro rcsoliition in -tujnuttitteo ho had -swpptised that the boai'-d ivttuld soon litjiit the mnwher of its easitai waiters to, say, WO. Ho presiimccl -Mlfcl afie-a* 5(18 iveiltd .bo ina.vrfed, a«S it \ras hia .idea tli.at tlij; sclioitte .should apply only to iftawed WM-kers. lie tilioiight the . baard should ;purehase. r say, 4flfl'o-i , uflt) aei'os nf tend, low or twelve nitte from the city, aiid he was mm satisfied tliijt suitalite flat- isiid would «est ifioro tfeii J SI.OO per n-ere. Ho suggested tliat, say, 5013 cottages. be ereeted:, every ode- on itait ; an nero of fire tot-ivl Best *f every- l.ioiiso : aH4 -scotitiU «-<rajd %fi i *i:l>b«t £5.00. At , present tlic boarii ! "'tftht to he ahlo (:<i bomw' BsoOej' at

..per cent, and ttis wsujti mean i'h.at? tlio totewwsfc cbitt-ge Wfeulcj be £20 .jtoF .vaaf per ii.attsi?. Hβ would stiggtist' that, a rental of 1.25. yai: weiik b<? charged, w'lVidt Wotild jic-lel .£3l Is. per jrcrir. ouoiig]i. hi thqj.ighjj t<) oo«r Interest ' :a«a hut ftmd. To make il»s sehwiw ivorl;a.U.o it would bo Mftcßssai'y Mat mea shoiiW to> cai-ricd on. tiie railways at nominal rates. It wo:n:W bo. possiblefar tho man to arnxß-ge q.ii orgauisatiaji, by. whjeb, men jiaf, required St. Mid wharves on partfculat days. nw?d ntjfc conws to towii, .and qii tij.oso dsiys tlLey fcffidd fdtew tho,t)tcasaMt and tevatwt! occttjiatfon of watHet garioitiiig. Cbi)* (Ittjeris <J» tlio wliarvtis noiv tvo'ro suclf tliat it jvSiß npfs sitrijrfatog tot iiiou became demoralise. i'l» be&t rewetlj w<ißM bo to ).i# tljs miifltergf ■<ja:s.uai , 8., aiiil, grad;ually, &$ opiiortantty dft<jfe4, to Wftg ifcem mider iflie Jjoard s s $wpc> ■alin.M»tibn srchctiic. By dofeg tl.iis'fe ■ttougM tho. bdatcl woilld ii.afc oiity dp ilio »eu good,'feut Tcniove one of their clifef diflieuttiies, ami tfould in<?vt> a iiieoacft f jtora the fiettiumliity.

W,hy iSinsls out waHetetoersT .. .■Sir, M. Colteii said he was suro l.hnt Mr, C«jljb.e ! s idea, v-its a twig j'iglit laies, hut lift was' not swto tfiat- it wmM sv<jik Qttt qtiito Wglii .iio»% A. fetal -obstacle scL-fflgfi te "bo the .dfetsiica tj.io men ivoifld hipo to livo fco;n 'tiheif wo.rii; He agreed. ts)|rt tfic board sJicilld Kef a stuff, ajid lijtviug .-go* a leval stafF ono ql tlie iiique&iflcnts to-fee ofe-ed ■ sUeuid h'o g^o.i-.and -cbelu) vJroMijilig. ' Mr. , JC. ,W a jejijos asked fr% fc ■Ceubq siiigled <iii : t teatersidtj ft-ffrfjci's f : oiv fttso, prii'ilQgcSi- . tiiei'Q w<jyo olliof. Workers t<s bo fiWisiciorci. Watersfdw worifewj awe ii g<3o:d class o'f uvon. as a rule, many <if wljom .lisd coiivbrtalito* ■wH-lttltt homes, Dtlier xVetkers ivoiild afsa ask for graartu nf feud rail nom* inal raihvii;j' fates, & sliould smn.y to .{ill ■w.ofters. "Vn\ it .Wflrivof, li<j said; 4i does £t a-ftp).} l t<?. fij.e? I wttivt that nefo taaiy." IJo cjceisircd iiwt Jw , did not tti-ij* tliij ectemo was pac-t-icabfe. . •■

Mr. 0. E. D4iliq.il sa.a iw dj.d iiofc Bcliev« iljo scheme jiras 3 pessikto otto from s ■business pijiat of Vie*. Mr. E, A,. Wipght supported Mr, Cobbed proposai 'but oiio difficulty that b.f sart' .d.t tjio bogiijixijig ri'Ua ifoirt tl : i<* men .niigM not car-o to liv<j oirt fa tlio ewtfrfery -away frohi their iv.prk* OriTy PSfmissiVG, Mr. A. E Ktodiiiarjsli said %t -fehe mere feet of th'o lipard seoktHg to tnji.e pbw.w fpr'the erection p{ WJifkcw , licinios jwjturt tha't timy vvoidtl at one.& .put tfie scheme iido clftut. Kfcii jf tljfe iejitsk.tioa tvefe sawieii, ilio tooarf would ftot at oticc> rush to put flic sclioinii ifrto efet, " . the cliaif man hisosppmted oat #tit in the lMeiiniiiijQ all llijpb tlvo tjoaj'l soUjjlit «'as fcgislatjv*. powe.h ' ,Jfr, j. .(5, jitiriivie.ss Snisi lie svas ript in agreement with tiiecliairniau as to the of tlte :feseft;ttO!i. W )VjS:s triin that .in. J>li9 tWrts of' 610. i*spluiio.n tiib, bo.ari soiiglit power 01%, Ijut if Jhoy ;(jai'r : feti: tlio resolution. ,tlic,y tittitaily to put SOiftjß sch'cjhio into ettest. Hft <Kd uflt MiiiJf ]&> Gbto's %g\i.m wouM be .feufl.d to bo vcoftecfc in worirfiip for the fttmtifll fitefge on &£.coyivt ct'f pV'or.y lioii-so., for ijjterest siu-Miig fiUi(l- t «nfl depVedatmß flat lie tess ikm g3o. li& jvotflrl iiio\ v » ifcafc tlid jmf-stioU of rctuo?ti!i;c tilio %J M : ts» 4«eo 'tegistotiOH fltißirftog flic Hjirtcflf fioa.rcis AW tp (live IJivrlk>'«r Bq.ar.Js p(j»vcr to. actjiiwe kiwi fof i,ettlcm.eftt :oii ttlii^ , to establish lioiii.es for IJaWioiif :I}o:if(l cifswi.l wo-skeffs he?. l'cf*r*<l to tlio iiavtetti-S AsSodfetSoii.

' 'I'ke anioiMimeut was ijartictl by seven V-otPii'to sis, tlio voting feiiig ftfl,'.jiof: Cdhen, BanioM, Kennedy, tvmm, Haritnessv Nnttiaw, J«nes. Apiiiist.: -Cobli'e; SrEwitM., M.iitsoM, HiDchiiarsk, Ffotclwr. Board the flaly dirttrew Mr. Flttrfiflr tkn. msvsd ; t'te .feecoiiil ro<joHivnie:UdittioiU^- i ' |i r-o _, Uie fioverament wjtli n v-iow* to the hittodiiction (if kß.istetWii #liis sossiisij sft'iii.g HafboiF tftnrds full authority. *s Covtvplliag budii'S to Cari-v Out a.U te.iidic'S' <if fterk- on til© watev'towt..' , Mf t C. W. JrtiWS s!ig(*ejit«t i!i!i;t moiteij .fehmiid bn liold "over lor f-UTtI.K-r tretisMfffatioiv. Kc was .suft> ftv? committoo. iivJikinp the tt;on»nej',vl:i.rt : ion had nflt. diare-ted the raalt«\ ajicliio was su.rs tlio sMpuinp; coiiipsiMes woriH stasiglj opwtiSo tfoo sobcuic. " atr, 31. *>}«% ilw PRPpflupfcr i?f <tli<3 j-ffMiMS said W feffkod ii'pon .it. ;i« TjN gontty iipeftssart. te -cJo- wilJi rvi.-» Avh-Mi parted not finly \y.ofliit.ehsH. l»i* iu Now r wi-Is Upljoiivat of our eamifterffai fllfw.f. 'H-i* Hca was tbai «vs s»«» as |ms--sil>fo uiort of t!is> wfli'k nf>\v *)»*! iby «fe cas"A siiorfti l»fe <Jmw bv piM-iUftliint iiieft, Ths dijeotioii' to Hw'jsrtosMit few flint Rucij a ; %.ivgf xvi.viti.bet- i«x? C'ttilTOrt to tljo Watoffwnv, p.-ul pnceiira!*ri to Msy tktffi tlist tl»p} ! wsiifl fwt :ivll!« fl. Tiving \#ago. 'Tito mnnte of *ftw. sltoiiW top vb*}iipcii|'tt sH'iA a Mtinriios , thailihcw cafiM alt cai'tt a Imh?. tho noijiß.aniQS' View. Mr. Jones; Wli-at .about, tho sh : ijiiii ; iij!: eowipteies r : . . ■ air, CMien: I *Wi* ttroy &e ■n-ofl advisoj'l 'to a.ifept 'sott© siiniiat SEflOlh(f. Mf\ Joiicsi Tiioy «<SiiU tal«> JJWIt sliips awsiy, Sit. Cokctt KiiM _t'li«>. petf pivirtiiHi wiVflfi. pi's iwMild ji|vpi;iDSliiv»te ■?I) 'rtWn'.bi;f Jo tlio ayarago' himitior ouipiftyAil :at.. tlin slriefs sftiijoft of t.b'e yfra) , . 'J'lw Istoiil. wQfik] sfflcet ,'ihc bts,i; iikms -ffonfi &?. cjsuals) aivd it.l»- etlio.ft would j\s*e ,to

seek work elsewhere. In order to mako any of those reforms possible the board must first take over tho control of all .Waterfront work. Ho knew tho sclionio ho had proposed was revoliitioiiaxy, and ho knew that it would bo opposed bv the shipping companies, but no could not seo that they- were 80 vitally concerned. As now, the consiimor would pay for tho cost of all services. Ho was suro that if tho board passed tho resolution they would be doing n very wiso thing, and discharging a duty to tho public and the community in taking steps to prevent tho rocurronco of such a calamitous Upheaval as that which happened recently.

For and Against. Mr. A. H. TlLndmarsh said tho resolution was only in effect li request for enabling legislation, and tho passing of it Would iiot commit ,tho Harbour Board to anything. Some of tho opposition to tlio motion, mill to similar motions, was based on tho old Tory idoa that it was unsafe to trust tho people. Personally ho thought Parliament would probably havo the sanio objection to the scheme. Mr. H. L. Nathan said that ho thought it would bo unwiso for tho board to approach tho Government oh tho question without first consulting tho oilier harbour boards. Ho would movo that tlio question bo referred to iho Harbours Conference.

Mr. J. G. Harkncss seconded the amendment. Mr. R. A. Wright said that if iho chipping companies combined to resist this proposal, it would bo very, hard to get legislation such as was being asked for. Ho thought, however, that aomo amicable arrangement could bo made between the shipping companies and tho board; and he was sure- that no permanent good could bo achieved unloss alt tho control of work were in tho hands of ono central authority.

Mr. Ri Fletcher said ho was suro thero never could bo any agreement between the companies and the boards, but there could bo no satisfactory solution of labour troubles on the waterfront until all the labour was under tho control of ono authority, and that authority tho Harbour Board. Ho believedthat although it would bo impossible) to bo rid of 4urpius labour, it would bo possible to minimise tho present difficulties by snttino: up a nermanenfc 6tafE of 800 or 900 contented men.

i'hs aniondment was Josfc by teit votes to three. Following leas tho voting:— lot t)io amcn&tnont: Messrs, Harisnoss, Jones, and Nathan. Against: Messrs. Cohen, Cobbo, DirnieU, Fletcher, Hvndmarsli, Kennedy, M'Ewan, Trevor, Watson, and Wright. Tho motion was agreed to on the voicc3. ; Increase Permanent Staff,

Mr. Flotclier moved the other recom. mendation of tho committee, that tho board further consider tho advisability of increasing tho present permanent wharf staff b.Vj say, 250 men. He added that the employment of this additional number of men would go some distance towards alleviating tho present troubles, although it woiild not remove them altogether? Beforo the-board would bo .asked to tako any final step in this direction, tho secretary would prepare* for presentation to members as Inuch information as possible as to what the scheme would cost. Tho final decision of the board would depend almost entirely on considerations of finance. Tho motion -was carried.