WATERFRONT METHODS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 8

WATERFRONT METHODS

"STOP-WORK" MEETINGS RESENTED INDUSTRY HELD UP The practice of the waterside workers ill holding "stop-work" meetings and thereby interfering with -the business ot the port was condemned at yesterday s meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr. C. E. Dnniell. the retiring chairman, introduced tho subject in welcoming to the board. Mr. C. H. Chapman, wlio was elected in the interests of the Labour Party.. "We have a good deal to be proud of in. tho fact that the Labour leaders are acting in a constitutional way in what they believe is their iight for their rights," remarked Mr. Daniell. "I hop that that spirit will be kept up." But, added Mr. Daniell, it was pretty annoying when, a section of the community, r.lto tho watersiders, held up industry by acting like they did last Saturday. That ■was one of the results of partisanship. Tho men were fighting for what they supposed to be their interests, but it was a sad liusiuess when one section of the community, which was represented on tho •board, should, without, reference to the interests of anyone else, hold up tho business of the port. He hoped that everyone would try to dissuade the men from such methods. It. was unpardonable to hold up the business of the community, and ho resented it very much. There was another way of attaining their desires. As regarded Labour generally in Now Zealand, he was glad that constitutional methods were being adopted, and that the extremist ways of somo other countries wore being avoided. > The new chairman of the board, Mr. J. G. Harkness, said it would be the duty of the board during the ensuing year to evolve, in conjunction with others, some scheme which would remove the trouble experienced with Labour to-day, and have matters placed on. a permanent and more satisfactory footing. He agreed entirely with Mr. ; Daniell when he said that such a "stop-work" meeting ns was held last Saturday morning should not have taken place. "What we have to do, he went on, "is to see if we can show tlie men that their interests aro out interests. In getting their confidence I earnestly hope that some bettor understanding -wiirresult between employers and employees, and. that these things, at all events, will not ' happen in the future." Mr. Chapman said he regretted 'exceedingly that class representation was noce-saarj. While there was a claah of interest between employers and employed , it was only to be expected that the result would be reflected in the election of administrative bodies. Until there was greater harmony among the people generally, and. there was less of the . ("class line," they could not avoid class representation. In that matter ho felt he had a, valuable example in the late. Mr. A. H. Hindniarsh. (Hear, hear.) He would certainly endeavour to emulate Mr. , Hindmaxsn. It had been said that th 9 watereiders had held -up tho work of the port. Unfortunately other,interests, apart from the watersiders, held up the business of the community. He regretted that a slur had been cast on the watersiders—whose action might have been cause it rather tended to make one think that there was an impression that the only people who held up the business of the port were the watersiders. Other interests temporarily held up business, i> ud they had to recognise that when they complained of the watersiders.