WATERFRONT LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2185, 25 June 1914, Page 6

WATERFRONT LABOUR

EMPLOYERS' SCHEME DISCUSSED BY HARBOUR BOARD GENERAL APPROVAL ./;,, shipowners' proposals ,: outlined . ;:.■'.■, ■ Tho proposals for the control •of.'.ia'bour on the wharves recently agreed, upon, .by the• shipping companies -in conferencewero discussed by the ■Wellington-Har-bour lJciird last night.' 'A letter was received from the Prime,. Minister (tho Right. Hon. ,\V. F. Massey); :• acknowledging receipt of the board's resolutionon, the. subject.of the qont-rol'of waterside labour, and stating that- the .Government was considering: the ; question of ■ introducing legislation , dealing--with the matter. .. ~ ■..:••• : "I have no reason for. saying so," said Mr. Fletcher, "but.. l> don't, thinkthe. Government, is giving, much consideration to the. question, in view of what occurred at the, conference of employers the other day." : . , ... ■„ . . ■'• Mri Fletcher wont on. to read a letter from Mr.. Pryor,, secretary of the Employers' Association, covering details of a proposed scheme which would, bo submitted to the. shipowners for- ondorsment or modification. Mr, Fletcher es-.. plained that he had met representatives of the association that morning, and had discussed the scheme- with them. Following is the tost of the'letter:—: Object of Association. '"'. ■ The main object of the-.asspciation;i3 to,so. consolidate atid control the work as. to ensure the .earning-.0f... a,.living; wagp by waterside workers ,who are- registered with the association);as. entitledto employment on. the .waterfront as : a: means of livelihood...'. .-■■. •:.,:■'' ■'■ "''■:■ ~' '■; ■'-,';.' : - ".:'■ A register of nieu, nominated by'em-, plp.vors, will-be prepared.. . Each -ai these. .men. Will, be supplied l jvith/a numbored, to'k'eri£ which is intended -the.worker's recognition:. ££,-.''iv waterside , worker, and could be. used'as-:-a, means of identification when-wages Are'beiiig; ].t;is.proposed.to requir.6i.aj deposit of .2s. ,6d. frp'm.eaoh rtorker to. whom;a token is,.supplied.;' '■'■.. : •.■;;', : ' J- : Living Wage;;.'■j:. 1 ., 7 : :-, ■The aim of the association k will;be to. secure to cadi worker whose name is-.ori. the register suoh employment-iinder tho. conditions s.et. forth' in '"tjie industrial: agreement-as will eeciire to, even the most unskilled- section suph; a.ver-age- rateof pay as the association 'slinlj- from time to tim.3 decide slicu'ld .be earned to provide a fair : living-wage: It is, however, to. bo 'noted.' that the agreement regarding the living/wage will bo one between members of -the asspciar: tion.only, and that no guarantee 'Willi be givon to tae union'in that; connec-i tion. . ' ■'.'.■•■' ''" ■■''■ Supplementarj- List.—The manager of the association will keep up a supple- , mentary list' of capable men of good character from which will be ohoscn men for work when those on' the _re(?istcr are uot suißcient for the work in handEngagement of Labour.—Each em-1 ploycr through his own represontativo will engage men for his daily, requirements, from among, those, norainated by] 'such employer; IdKth'ol.Weiit'iOf i'tiiesei not proving sufficient, tho manager shall, if possible, supply men on the ■register nominated by other' employers if there are any disengaged available. In tho event of the register supply of available men being insufficient for immediate requirements, tho manager ishall endeavour to secure a sufficient number of men on the .supplementary list. If at an extra busy time both these lists are depleted, the manager ■will giro all reasonable assistance to secure outside labour for the timo being. It is essential, however, that all parties should understand that the association only, recognises .tho men on the- register ae its regular employees, and does not accept any responsibility as .to the amounts earned bv those on the supplementary list. It is tho intention of the association that the best men will be, -those first chosen for vacancies on the register. .' '■' I Payment of Wages.

Each week each member, of 'the'association will be required to supply the manager with a copy-of his wages sheet, accompanied by a cheque for tho amount of wages duo, plus such extra percentage as the association decides should'be paid for expenses, etc. Tho' association shall compile a wages sheet showing tho amount payable by each/member to each worker.- Workers -shall ; be pajd. by the association at the' associations', office at such times as may bo fixed. The present suggested times of payment are Friday, noon to 5.30 p.m.; Saturday, 9-a.m. to noon. It will bo the duty of the manager to closely scrutinise the earnings of "thja men and endeavour to so arrange that the average wages earned pv any ma.u .on the register shall not fall below-the .amount decided upon by_the association.Priority: Men.I—The1 —The list, of men who ,ha,yq registered their , names' as having joined tho /union before December 9. last 'will be purged; by, excluding, inconir 'patents, and will be allocated iriaccprd,ance as they are at , present employed proportionately amongst tho. various.em r ployers. Those so ' employed will be placed on tho 'register ifnder the same conditions as other workors. ' 'Committee of Management.—A Com? mitteo of Management has;been , sot; tip ■with full powers to manage the business of tho association, and it .is exppctecl that the committeo will bo recognised as the Court of Appeal by employers, tho union, and even in.caso of ii'eed by individual workers. ■ - • ' ■■ ■■ Collection.of Information. ' Within tho next two or threo'.davs employers will bo requested to supply the association with tho following information: (1) List of -"priority" ' men usually employed by them;'(2)"names'-of those on that list who arc considered to bo incompetent; (3) list of workei'9 other than "priority" men-usually employed'by them; (4) list of .worker J , ' member desires to employ, whoso names it is proposed should he placed on the'regr ister and for whom the member believes a living wage can bo secure^; • (5) total amount of wiiggs paid for the year ended May 31, 1914. In connection yeith the scheme legaladvico- has. been obtained to tho effect that tho. Hnrbpiir Board is not in (ipositioii to join'the association.' ■■'■ I£ is hoped, lioweycr, 'tlia't tho Board will recognise that : an earnest attempt is beinn; innde to improve the conditions of labour-On the waterfront', niid that it 'will see. it,s way.U'o' assist in making tho scheme a success. To that end it is sugctested for-consid-eration by the board that it might adopt similar rulos regardihit employment of labour, and that it'will supply the association with the information detailed above. Tho board w<ll-also hi? roquestcd to accept its shiU'o of. prloritv ijvcn on tlio same, basis as other employers, and to provide the necessary office and engagement of labour' accomnfodatiqn for.the use of the association." .. ,! Mr. Fletcher Approves. Mr. Fletcher, commenting .on.' the scheme, said that although it did not go ns far as ho tvotild like it to go, .it whs in the right, direction, an.l might develop into something of the kind he would like to sec ineoiutecfcioii with' waterside work, There would -be ei-

[.tra cost, but he thought everybody was agreed that they did nofc .want to,. To* [leaf the experience- of a few .months I-ago, and if this eouid lib' ftiad/e ferevor impossible even if .there were. estm. cost, .it would be .for,. 'iho benefit wf ilu> I port and. the province';' Wo. Po'itVoiild ho home by the iriah.in thw street, but ho thought people', generally w'u're romdj to pay ior rabro poeuVitj. The; board could' not legally 'joik the'.association, but could cc-operalo. tf.j.t'h it, and' Jib; Had- suggested' that the heard' sfrouid'grant'free office accommodation torv'tlre.. nianagerinl staff,: in. tlio o.!<f' SsiiarV Rest quarters' adjacent to "the wtlit-iitg room. A partition'cottkt bo taken down, | and' arrangements niarfo-so that' tfo j , waiting•' rooni co'ulij Ifc- altva.ys tinder ! ' the suneillaiico of the Htfrewger.:" ! The.' ■i'chemo would mean a. leveflinii-ddttH of ■ come of tho good wm who now sot a- ■ surfeit dFtheVwork,' bttt he tlwu.gH-.tfc.,: schemewas a.goodfiH.owhjch tieboard--could support-with-advnnfeige. ,". An Honest endeavour.: ■ ■ Mr. ll.iColrau eaid'he. Was'.glid'the; board's discussion on the' sftbjeet of': reform in tho em.plq,y.mciit of 'iahaur-. lia'd borne;sucli early fruit. Tko'sclifeniq: might.not:bo , all that tJio brWi.l desired.' but; it-,was: apparently an '■ h<v.i6ist-' •'en- ■ deavour to copo.-witji' a•• difficult qucE-,,. tioii, and he: believed tho adoption <jf;. the scheme iwoiild J3O a-stop in the. right-.-direction.'.-.'.No : dßubtfexf>oriene6 : of it would-.discover: crudities,.hjrt■ tin*' , dor, intelligent, .control .t3ie.ssi.woui.tl dis» appear, ■ Mr.' R. A. Wright sm'tj the assoeiatiou were to be cotigratutated On their ' efforts io; handle, a sevtes' proMenj, ; Whether it would-fee successful or not . time would.tell. Cost. »« an item to:' be.considered;.but.ih.e.peQple were-:.pre-pared .to pay Biero ' for " pyeejjs-■ tionary 'measures to prevent itfr-' I ever. ■. .tho. .of * ; h : W. had occurred recontlr/ yi'ho ' Gduld.: say. what tho..strike had cosi tie ebW try? ,No.. one . coifld -teU, ' mid It-.was worth the expendftttw. of scitm- monftjto ston such a Isis for tlio; fii&ure,. The; idea of issiiinfe .to!c<rns ift'sietAiicd. min would do', good--in' prevettti-ttg.'llije congregation, on. tiho wiiterfreiyi. -of \iix-. , d^rab;h>s.;.'\Th6'pr& ! brejiai.o|.U^w-,'tb.-'d'««iJ. , wiih; r .thbi■'marprlii, <jf .ca;snais- •■w4s- : «tfH. to.-bo dealt with. ... ; '.•.-' •'■ ... ...■Mr. .Fletcher: You are st)4ayng.of. : the ' supjiicmeutary .jfet. '■'• 'Iffiestj -ti'ieu will be- better off -ihnii; tlje> - fiici'mm.*'' Mr. HintJmarsh r$ sugpioisHs, ' Mf.. A. .H,, riiiiflhi;arii,h- saM.f.iisfe.'.he:, considered 1 that-unless-tho' sdfcaiy'wijS. properly. :worked-, it would ho- oiie o:f thef.faipst:dang^roiis $»ui forward:. ■ It:wouia:'b'rins a)l of,-'tho. whiirf uiicjar i!)e.! : d'oid!uii<S!a ■ /Qf--/ otto boss , ,.' a,ud:. tjiu's.- ittfgut. 'iß'eajii; .riiaii. foe; orV"cr.iti-:; cism,'."pr.'anyi attb'nvjjtrtb'''fnijirQ)^;4on< di.tious, would be^a : .ma:rlse4v'iß:a.W>; t-yrannj- i?jj; nvwH be. absolutely "uisflffe'rabfo;' The Bchcrufe was,doomed to failure Appeal Board.was set.up, . ~ ':■ ''•'."' •'Mr. Fletcher: That as .p«*S&%l...tbt' , - in.the rules; . . ..-• ■ '.• ;-.' . - ; '-';.. •; M,r. Huidniarslt kop^d , a. JjEp*.... peal. Board -iroulfl lie Set uj*. At JiW sqnt.tllo e.n)ployt>fs Were., fcftfeig '*%' shock-of the siifiicCj ..a.ni ;cKe,y were ready to, do. someiSiiig.; b'u'i this' fceling.' . •would .'soon disappcaf. . )' '■■•.. '•:■ 'Mr. 'J. G.: Harisjie,W tfei as' Itfi; understood j't,' 'de%jt6" fi.aS: ■been arrived at. , '■ . : ■.. .''■ ;' Mr. ; .Floiclier: Tljcs.e- .rates 'hive, aft; to be considered yoi: ' ■ ' • '. i Mr. Harknessi-SA.i.d./ftat I tho, board would 'rfot ba. iaslifed. ■ to' psjsjsany resolution, bgfc sjpj.pjy tp express, a general opinion on tho sclifenie.' 'fhoi proposals.were a atteiu-pt t<> deal with a very EJlffteult proliieni. The success of the Scb.ejne Wcaali depend' not on the setting : 'ui> ofj »•» Board, but oh the hjanap;er' appoint*! Ijy the association. Mr'. Fletcher: fefc . : ,M'r*. har-e {p. be &: man of consummats 'taqi, js SMiefc boa man who is strong, as tv-cII as jist. Mr. Huidmarsh'i Oan you get such a man?

Mr. Harkness: Yes, you can get him in Mi. tlindmarsh.

Mr. Htndmarsh: I am my glad you KJvo mo such a character. I would not givo sou inch a character.

Other Members. Mr. J. G. Coblo eaid he hoped t!io boaid would bV eupplied wilh sjl dctaiis before beinfi asked; to ron'-c to a final decision on the scheme Especially lie- would like to havo details a<; to the cost. Mr. Fletcher said tho sihrmo would cost tho board nothing, br-cauec tlio hoard could not 30m the association The only cpst to the hoard would be tho freo grunt of officr accommodation. Mr. C. E. DaniMl aoprovwl v of tli*> eclieme ns an effort tooiertsmc scfioiis difficulties, and onp to which tho board could gw its hearty support, Jlr. J. W.' M'E;van s.nid Le wo'ild like more informatinn '-u tho sclwtne, and the opinjon of the men eonconiinf; it, before passing , nn opinion He thought the board should insist upon Hho settine up of an Appeal Board. Mr. C. \V. Jones said the scheme I'ftd not been considered in ifs details py tho employers, and it would bo wise for tho present, to withhold judgment upon it. 1 Mr. Flotchfr 53 id he would., u?fi )ns influence to havo provision mode in the rules of the association for thn'settiiiß up of an Appeal Board. Ho was sure tho employers would not object to this. Tbey were very earnest!} desirous of blinking about mhiip control <?f labour on tho wharf, and the ieist the board could do was to co-operato with the association. He would uot fomhtifc the board in anv way, but ho would bft glad of the board's consent'to fto on with the ueaotiations on tho,bash of the proposals put forward Members wiMiotil osception sicnififd their that_ the chairman should continue negotiations with the employers.