WATERFRONT LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 103, 24 January 1918, Page 7

WATERFRONT LABOUR

THE MEN AND THEIR TREATMENT DISCUSSION BY HARBOUR BOARD Tho Special Committee set up by the Wellington Harbonr Board to report on the question of permanent labour for tho Wellington waterfront was to havo reported last evening, but on its bohalf tho chairman (Mr. 0. E. Daniel 1 ) sought an extension of time. Tho chairman said that the committee had, written to Australia' asking for information. Some information had been received, but the committeo had written again to see if something more definite could he obtained. He thought that in New Zealand we were gradually drawing to a point whore there would be. one central control of ■waterfront labour. At presont .there were too many diverging interests, too much contention, and the best was not made o'f the labour available. A central body would fl'.'iko for bettor things. There were 450 men employed on the, Wellington wharves handling coal: onethird the number could do the work and do it better. Referring to tho ■question of the knocking about of goods such, as cheese crates, ho blamed tho shipping companies. A member: The labourers are to blame!..

The chairman: No, the companies pay for what they get, and get what they pay for. Mr. K. A. Wright said that the shipping companies would not agree to thp board being the central body to control the whole of the labour.

Mr. W. Wallis questioned the accuracy of Mr. Wright's contention. ■ Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh said he believed there", was a system in Copenhagen whereby the union, contracting with the harbour authority, became the stevedores. The system, he understood, general satisfaction. Members of the Wellington Board becamo eloquent over cheese stores, but silent about human beings. Our industries werff , organised on low wages. Too little attention was paid tq the ques•tionVof- the welfare of the men. t 'lhe men made progress by striking. They made' tremendous progress by the lass strike, and would continue' to do so. This had been forced under our notice here, but the boards would not remedy the evil: they would not treat the men as human beings. Our whole object in New Zealand was production of wealth Wo spoke'of how much butter and cheese we exported, never of human happiness. Ho saw nothing ahead but the most bitter fight on this waterfront. '.

' Mr. Wallis said thero was no warrant whatever for the statement of Mr. T»"Tight- that the shipping companies would not consent to the board becoming the authority controlling labour. Mr. Wright: Will they agreo to it? Mr. :Wallis: I cannot say. It has never been discussed. ■ Mr. J. G. Harkness resented the expressions of Mr.-Hindmarsh. The board was ea"er to.deal fairly by its men. The committee's time for reporting on the subject was extended . till March.