WATERSIDE WORK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 208, 28 May 1920, Page 8

WATERSIDE WORK

HARBOUR BOARD'S NEW MOVE

PERMANENT .EMPLOYMENT AIMED AT

A matter of considerable importance was.broached at last night's meeting of the Harbour Board, when the following motion was tabled by tho chairman (Mr. J. G. Hnrkness) :— That a committee bo appointed, consisting of Messrs. Cohen, M'Ewan, Daniell, Turrell, M'Arthur, and Hnrkness, together with the executive officers of tho board, to consider what methods the board should adopt to increase the efficiency of waterside' work on tho wharves, and to suggest some practicable scheme that will secure ponnanent employment and wages to its labour, and bo satisfactory to employers and employed, and

report to the board at its meeting in June. The chairman said that it was essential that something should lie done to better the conditions of the men working on the wharves. Ho earnestly hoped that out of his suggestion iJomething would be evolved of benefit to the men and of very great assistance to their employers. Mr. C. E. Daniell, in opposing the motion, reminded members or the attitude of the shipping companies, who very definitely opposed control of the labour on the wharves by the board. It was also understood that the labour, organisations did not want the board to interfere in the matter. Personally, he could hardly understand the attitude of the shipping companies. The shipping representatives and tho lalwiir representatives would not come together. They had had an instance of that only thin week, when .the shipping of the port had been held up on account of some trivial dispute. He did not think the present was an opportune time to "broach the matter, and ho failed to see that any good could come out of the present proposal,

Tho Biggest Union of All. The transport sections of the Labour movement were going in for tho one big union movement, but he would r<mind members that they represented the biggest union of the lot—the whole community. The Employers' Association had deliberately handed over the control to tho shipping companies with the result that chaos had come about. Mr. M. Cohen considered that the board should leave the shipping companies alono for a moment and endeavour to put its own bouse in order. In any case, it was idle to discuss the matter before the committee had presented >m report. . Mr. C. Jf. Turrell said that he -took it that the chairman merely wanted to deal with the Harbour Board employees, and not entrench on the affairs of the shipping companies. A good deal of delay of late had been caused through the 'Harbour Board, on account of its shortage of labour, being unable to fully man tho wharves, while the shipping companies for their part had all the labour thev required. Mr. J. W. M'Bwan, in supporting the motion, hoped that one result would bo an endeavour to bring together the three parties interested on Hie waterfront, with a view to co-operation in the future. Captain C. M'Arthur said the proposal was a step in the right direction, as it might lead to tho nucleus of a morn satisfactory system than at present obtained. Serious Complainu. The chairman, in reply, said, that he had no intention at nil of interfering with tho shipowners. The resolution stated definitely that the board desired to deal with its own labour and that alone. He had his own private opinion of the matter mentioned by Mr. Darnell. Ho reminded members that serious complaints had been made of late regarding tho insufficiency of casual labour so far as the board was concerned. It could not be disputed that on certain occasions there had been men on the wharves wanting work, and tho board wanted men, and yet-.they would; out work for the board. "Wo want, ho remarked, "to know why." Other questions to be considered were whether it was possible for tho board to increase its staff and have the work moro effectively performed than at present Tho motion was put and earned. Mr. Daniell then moved that the employers and tho employees bo invited to send three representatives each to confer with the committee. Mr C H. Chapman seconded tho motion,'which was lost on the voices, the majority of members holding that the present time war inopportune for such a step. . . ■