WATERSIDELABOUR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 8

WATERSIDELABOUR

,NEW SCHEME OF CONTROL ; i EMPLOYERS & THE HARBOUR BOARD PREPARING THE REGISTER Since the big strike of last, year the problem of regulating the employment of waterside labour has been occupying tho attention of the various parties concerned, and-at last night's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, tho chairman (Mr. R-. Fletcher) read a letter from tho Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey), stating that the Crown Law Officers had been asked to advise as to what extent it was necessary to amend the Harbours Act to givo effect to tho resolution passed by the Harbour Boards' Conference in January last, urging that tho present powers of Harbour Boards should be extended in order to enable the boards, by arrangement with shipowners, to carry on the business of stevedores or to license persons or firms, The Prime Minister added that as soon as this advice was obtained it would be carefully looked into with a view to introducing an amendment to the Act next session. In tho meantime would bo glad to have the views of members of the board on the subject. "I need hardly add," concluded Mr. Massey, "that I am very anxious that something should be dono as soon as possible to place tho employment of waterside labour upon a permanent and more satisfactory footing." _. ' . ■ Tho chairman remarked ' that the "letter had been formally acknowledged, and he did not' know that anything further could be done at present-. On the same question (control of labour on the waterfront), the chairmam announced that he had.had several conversations with Mr. W. Pryor, actingsecretary of-the Wellington Co-operative Waterside Labour Employers' Association, and he had asked Mr.. Pryor to embody tho result of those conversations in a- letter *Ca the board'. A letter had since been received, and he, called on tho secretary.(Mr. H. E. Nicholls) to read it 'to the meeting.. In this letter Mr. Pryor stated that Mr Fletcher, had made it quit© clear—(a) that tho board was unablo to enter into- any legal agreement with tho association or to become _ a member thereof ' as. such action would be -ultras vires, and (b) that tho board must retain the complete control, management, and supervision of its employees, and the engagement of labour required by it must be done by the board s wharfinger or foreman, and any labourer omployed will retain his right of.'appeal'to tho .committee of the board set up for that 'purpose/. Mr. 'Pryorfs letter then continued: "Subject •to ine above, Mr. Fletcher was prepared to recommend the board to adopt the following as regards the board's em--ployees:—"To create a register of .employees formed of=(a)' the men/entitled to priority of employment under the board's resolution of December 17, 1913, subject to their being competent within the terms 'of that resolution; (b), such' further number of competent men as the board shall think fit.' Men on' this register to' be entitled to priority of employment over -outsiders, but no discrimination to, bo shown between any -men onthe register. The resolution of the board, dated December 17, 1913, to be modified accordingly. _ ;.. 2. Tho board reserves to itself the right to' create a supplementary, list'of men who will be employed by the board when there arc no men on the register available. , .-.. , : .-.,■,-: .... . ... , S. The board willpormit the association by its manager at any reasonable time to inspect the board's pay-sheets, arid,to make copies of or to tak'o ex.tractslof the'same. .'.' 4. To show the board's desire to assist/trie association, the .board will set aside free of charge' suitable office accommodation for tho association staff, wherein men required to be employed through the association can be engaged and paid." ' • i The contents .of ! the letter were adopted by the board. : The, chairman said tho board's list was: now -being prepared. : The board was trying to achieve the same object as'the association to'give aj,decent wage to all the. moil employed. In order to give accommodation to the staff of tho association, aj'teratiolns to 'tho old Sailors' Rest were 'now being carried out.at a cost (according to the engineers'estimate) of between £400 and £500. ' •■'•;■.' ' A letter was received from tie chairman of the. Wellington Co-opera-tive Waterside Labour Employment' Association, inviting tho chairman of the Harbour Board to the committee meetings of tho association, and authority was 'given to the. chairman to accept the invitation. ' ■ ■•. . ':