WATERFRONT METHODS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 198, 16 May 1919, Page 8

WATERFRONT METHODS

.Sir,—ln your issue of,to-day, undei the heading, "Waterfront Methods," you give publicity to the remarks of Mr. C. li. Daniell (the retiring chairman) and Mi.. J. G. Harkness (IJie new chairman) of the Harbour Board, in which- they complain of and condemn tho action of waterside workers tor holding stop-work meetings. If those people who are sd ready to heap condemnation on the heads of the watersiders for tjieir action would only pause for a few:Uioments and-look at the whole of the facts in connection with the work on the waterfront- they would find that neither they nor. the community they presume to speak for have any reasonable grounds lor plaint. ' • \ ' We have in this Dominion a legal eight-hour working day. This is exceeded by the majority of the workers on the waterfront up to twelve and sometimes more hours when the- boats a-ro in the harbour to be Worked; and when work is slack tlioy are obliged to wait round the places' of engagement for at least four hours owing to conditions imposed by the employers at tho waterfront, including the Harbour Board. If every other section of tho community gavo as much time to tho community ae the waterside workers to procure the means by which to live, no self-respecting community should question their right to etop a few hours for a meeting, although stop-work meetings for the purpose for which lasf .Saturday's meeting was lield may b'e found unnecessary when Mr. Harkness succeeds ■in "showing the men" that "their interests are our interests."—l am, etc., ■ A. M. HALL. 3 The Terrace, 'Wellington,; .May 14, 1919. ■