A STATEMENT DENIED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2798, 16 June 1916, Page 6

A STATEMENT DENIED

WATERSIDERS & TRANSPORTS NO REFUSAL TO WORK LATE. An indignant protest was made by a deputation of waterside workers which, waited upon tho Dofeuce Minister yesterday against a statement ho had mado in answer to a question in* the House regarding tho employment -by Messrs. Campbell and Burko of some of their own employees, builders' labourers, to work oh a transport after 5 o'clock, at ordinary labourers' overtime rates, instead of waterside workers' overtimo rates. Mr. Allen's statement was as follows: "It may bo pointed out that, in view of the uncertainty of action by the waterside workers, it is absolutely nocessary to see that, no delay over such matters occurs, and that all contractors should havo a fre« hand in arranging for the nfecessary labour to oarry out the work, iillotted to them in connection with the refitting, etc., of tho respective transports." Mr. F, Curtice, president of , the union, said that certain members of the union had been employed to work the Dalmore until 5 o'clock, and were then told Uioy need hot come back until 8 o'clock the following,morning. Ho said that-water-siders did not object, and never had objected, to work overtime on transports. Major Robinson, Transport Officer, who attended the proceedings, said his information was to tho effect that_the men had stated they would not work after 10 p.m., and the contractors had then put on their own men and paid them at tho watersiders' overtime rates. Mr. A. Walker, Lloyd's surveyor, and a member of the Transport Board, said t.he contractors had informed him that the men refused to work overtime, and, on account of the heavy espouse and tho fact that tho work had to go on, they had brought their own men down. .The waterside workers had then approached him and told him they Were prepared to work any hour. Mr. Curtice: Aire you sure fliey were not told to knock off at 5 p.m. and come on at 8 a.m. ? Mr. Walker: Thoy said they tyoiild Work until 10 o'clock, but according to their agreement they- oould not work after that. The Minister said it was . perfectly plain that the watersiders -were anxious to assist the Government, and this was only a little temporary difficulty. He would have the matter investigated carefully and ascertain what the true position flns. It was a matter of evidence. Mr. Bruce said the watersiders had Dten working c-vcrtimo ever since I;1ib start of the war, and were doing it every day. 1 The Minister said the Department waa anxious to give all the work it could to the watersido workers. . He understood that all overtime was paid for at award rates. , ' Mr. Roberts, another member of the deputation, said that ever since the war started the watersiders had worked ex* oessively long hours to get ships away. At l'orfc Chalmers they had ,worked aslong as 10, 18, 24, and even 3*C hours al a. stretch. It was unfair to say that they would not work the transports when they were required to do so. Not only had men been brought off the buildings to work overtime on the Dalmore, but the same thing had happened on the Ulimaroa. Tho _Minister replied that if a. wrong statement had been made it would bo retracted. A very large imount if work had baen dono by tho waterside workers, and ho wanted to give them every consideration. If the men worked during tho day timo they should havo tho privilege of working overtime as well. He suggested that the deputation confer with Major Robinson, and added that the two inoidents would be fully inquired Into. .