WATERSIDE LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 7

WATERSIDE LABOUR

THE QUESTION OF CONTROL DISCUSSED BY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION The -waterside labour question -was mentioned at a meeting of the committee of the Industrial Association last night. A letter from the Welfare League on the subject was before the meeting. The chairman (Mr. C. J. Ward) said he understood that the Government intended to appoint a commission to investigate the whole problem of waterside conditions, and he did not think that the association could do much in the meantime. The problem was very complex. Mr. C. B. Norwood eaid there was no certainty that the suggested commission would bo appointed. He did not doubt that if a single employer could be se- ' cured on the wharves, an improved system of employment would lesult. Permanent employment would be for a substantial number of men, and the amount of casual labour would be much reduced. The permanent men would be likely to value, their jobs, and the employer -would be in a position to weed out, undesirable casual labour. But the shipping men probably would not he willing to hand over the task of handling cargo to f an outside body. It was only in Wellington that the Harbour Board did the work. The chairman said that ffie thought more was likely to be achieved by a conference of the shippers and other waterside interests than by a commission. The committee took no action.