LABOUR ON WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 56, 29 November 1917, Page 9

LABOUR ON WHARVES

REFORMS PROPOSED

DISCUSSION BY HARBOUR BOARD

An interesting discussion on pronoaod reforms iu the methods of employing and controlling labour on the wharvoß took place at.the meeting of the .Harbour Board last night.

Mr. J. W. M'Ewan submitted the following motion: "That tho Shipowners Federation and tho Waterside Workers' Union be- each invited to appoint five representatives to meet five representatives of tho board to consider the following proposals: 1. That the Harbour Board control all labour employed' on the waterfront. 2. That all such labour shall be on a permanent basis." Mr. M'Ewan said no wae fully aware pf the difficulties in tho way of giving full effect to tho proposals made in tho motion, but ho would still ask the board to consider the motion in tho hope that the outcome would be a more satisfactory Btete of things on'the waterfront, for importers; oxporters, tho board, and the mon doing tho labour on tho wharves. He was dispotffcd-to believe that the effect of the reform would be for tho good of shippers and importers. Cargo would be better and more efficiently handled, perhaps by the use of Tip-to-date contrivances, and thore would bq less opportunities for pillage. At present cargo was damaged by rough handling, and a good deal of pillaging went on. If the cargo were handled by a wellpaid, responsible staff, better control would be possible. The present system,. i under which largo bodies of men waited round the wharvos day after day only Half-employed, tended to physical j and moral degeneration in the men themselves, and also tho community was not getting good value for the expenditure of its man-power. From figures supplied to him he had calculated that the average wage was about £2 12s. per week for 31 hours' work. The permanent men in the traffic manager s department received an average wage of £3 ss. 6d. per week. If some 300 or 500 of the casuals were put-on a permanent wage, there might bo difficulties about keeping theso men employed in slack times. But if the board went in for its proposed village settlement scheme the men might bo employed in preparing the ground or in some -work on the settlement. , They might even be employod in the construction of a floating dock,;for which Mr. Cable was asking. • , ,'■ . , ' Mr. M. Cohen said that ho had not proposed to second the motion, but ho would second it pro fornia, rather than allow it to lapse for want of.a seconder. • He considered tho question of very great, /importance. He realised that the scheme could never be brought into operation unless the board, undertook all the labour on tho waterfront of tho port. The problem as it presented itself in Wellington was not peculiar to this port. It oxisted in evory port all over tho world, and so far no solution had been found. The amount of labour required was unknown from day to day, and it. seemed impossible to keep a definite number of men regularly employed. \ ■ ■ ■ Mr. J. G. Cobbe said he had much sympathy with Mr. M'Ewan'e ideas. Hβ would, however, move the following amendment: "That the whole,question of the employment of labour on the waterfront bo referred to a sub-com-mittee of the board for consideration, this sub-committee to bring down its recommendations for consideration at the January meeting, the committee to consist of the chairman, Messrs. M'Ewan, Cohen, Hindmarsh, Captain M'Arthur, and the mover. Mr. A. MaoFarlane seconded the motion, but asked that Mr. Harknees ho added to the committee. This suggestion the mover accepted. Captain M'Arthur said that he would support the amendment. Some improvement in the control of labour on the waterfront was urgently necessary. The present dual control, often led to olash of authority, and to the loss of efficiency in the working of the'wharves. He . would suggest that tho board should inquire as to what the effect of the permanent employment of men for wharf work had been in Australia. The chairman said that.Mr. M'Ewan had good reason to be satisfied with the reception his Motion ; had had from members of, ithe board.. He. believed that there was reform, but it might not be possible to keep men employed continuously, and he feared that it might he just as bad a praotice to pay men and keep them idle as the present practice , of employing casual workers. . ''•; .;'.'. ' [ '-•''■.■ -.;. :/: •'... -..''

Mr. M'Ewan withdrew his.motion in favonr of the, amendment, which was then carried on the voices.