STEVEDORING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 9

STEVEDORING SCHEME

FURTHER DETAILS VENTILATED * WANTED, PROMPT PUBLIC ACTION (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.) When the Welfare League published the draft of a. proposed “N.Z. Co-opera-tive Stevedoring Association" on December 3, 1920, with its criticism of same, there were some who thought the league waa rather drasbio in its comments. From what has since transpired the league hos been fully justified in the notion taken. We learn that members of the joint conference (shipowners and! watersiders) have been sore over 'the league’s action in/ publishing; they evidently wished to keep the public in the dark. One shipowner stated, "It was the work of a traitor to give the co-operative scheme to the Welfare League.’" Well, we may say that no one connected with the shipping interests gave the copy to the league. It was own own special Mahatma who supplied us in strict loyalty to the public, who were entitled to know. Some harbour boards, iildustrial associations, and chambers of commerce, before the holidays, discussed the proposed scheme in a rather general way. Some decided to take further action later. We wtant to inform them now that if action is not taken very promptly it may prove to be too late. We understand that if the Waterside Workers’ Federation accepted the scheme their representatives were to meet tho shipowners’ representatives about the middle of January to prepare for putting the soheme into operation; It has never been denied that tho draft published by us was a correct version. It could be accepted with full reliance. Our Mahatma has furnished us with another chapter of the scheme story, which the public are entitled to know, and wo will be interested to learn if the secret joint conference of shipowners and Waterside Federation delegates can . question its general correctness. This story throws a flood of light on what is planned, and aimed at in connection with this so-called "co-operative scheme," and how much the< public is in It. The Story of a Scheme. Presenting the matter quite seriously, we learn that £he Waterside Workers' Federation in conference at Dunedin in 1917 went exhaustively into the matter; again at Lyttelton in 1918 the executive was instructed l to draw up a scheme. This was finally agreed to at a conference at Napier in 1919, and was handed to the employers in March, 1920. Of this scheme, which has never been made public as far as we know, one of the waterside delegates said: "The employers had so altered 1 the proposition as to be unrecognisable, so that the altered proposed scheme would have to be submitted to the federation." It would bo interesting to know what that original proposition was and why it could not be brought into the light of day. We are told that meetings were held on December 17, 18, 20, and 21, 1920, to discuss “wages" and "the scheme." One of the waterside delegates objected to the pillage clause, but the employers could “not agree to delete the pillage clause." The federation delegates agreed to lay .the scheme, as amended, before their cohference at Timaru. Two of the employers, we learn, did not view the scheme favourably, and wished their votes recorded against agreeing to it. On December 21, 1920, in the Farmers’ Institute Buildings, Wellington, we are informed that a joint meeting of 13 shipowners and 24 watersiders discussed the "scheme." Tho chief waterside delegate urged that "directors representing each side be of equal number.” Considered a chairman unnecessary and instanced the Disputes Committee (which has no chairman). Asked that watersiders be paid for statutory holidays as this would be in the interest of efficiency. Agreed to all other clauses except the last clause on profits. He said "they did not want the small boats in the scheme; they would be a nuisance.” Another delegate suggested four directors from each side, and let them elect an independent chairman. The employers’ spokesman said: "They must stand by the proposal for four employers and three watersiDers as directors; they must retain control of the industry.” A leading waterside delegate said: "The employers have not got control of the industry at present—the unions had control. They had the knowledge to do the work, and could handle the scheme better than the employers. If we cannot put this scheme into operation, I am going to help put the contractors off the waterfront. We are looking forward to managing all industries. We have the brains to makef the soheme go. You are trying to transfer the business to us because you have failed to cany it out successfully.” Another delegate for the watersiders said: “We are going to bring scientific methods to work, and we can run the work better than you." The employers reportedl on resumption "that they could not agree to alter the directors’ clause; theirs was no objection to a quarterly balance, but they could not agree to pay for statutory holidays. The employers suggested that tho scheme bo tried at Wellington, Bluff, and Timaru, and the watersiders Wellington, Timaru, and Napier. At one meeting of the employers, we are informed, one of the shipowner's objected to the soheme on the ground that his company was working on the lines of increasing a permanent staff they had now working. Another out that, whilst the scheme was being tried, the present contractor organisation would be destroyed. Note.—lf only half this story were true, and we are confident tliat it is all true, as we have names, illates, and 1 details which it is unnecessary to give—surely it is time that the general public and the Government of this Dominion took a liand in this scheme. After all, it concerns not only the big shipping companies and the Waterside Workers: Federation —it concerns us all, ami that is our justification for telling this story.

Entries for the sports, to be held under the auspices of the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club at Mnsterton on Anniversary Day, constitute a record. Included among the competitors are four AustraTbsian and five New Zealand champion’s. The highest wind velocity ever observed below 10 kilometres’ jiltitude was 83 metres a second, or 186 miles an hour, observed from a pilot balloon at a height of about four miles and a half, on December 17, 1919.