LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 26, 25 October 1921, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WATERSIDE EMPLOYMENT CONTROL HARBOUR BOARD’S CONFERENCE. Sir, —In your comments on the discussion of tho above subject, which, took place at the Harbour Boards' Conference, you say: "It is in regard to the method of change that opinions are divided, but a satisfactory compromise is quite possible if the parties show a reasonably accommodating spirit.” There appears jto us very Igood 'ground on. which a reasonable compromise can be effected which should prove satisfactory both to the majority and tho minority who voted on the motion submitted by Mr. Daniell. From the reading of the motion carried, and a statement made by Mr. Harkness, chairman, a day previously, it is quite clear that the conference lias decided io ask Parliament for larger powers than any of the boards have, at present, any intention of exercising in full. The resolution, "requests the Government to empower harbour boards to employ, control, and manage all labour required in the loading and unloading of ships, and for waterside work generally, whether on wharves or on vessels.” Thip, of course, would empower the boards to carry out all tho stevedoring and other work of the wharves and port. It is true that what is sought is merely permissive powers which no harbour board would be called upon to exercise unless it chooses to do so. At the same time, some may have opposed the motion, as correctly defining the powers it was proposed to obtain. We have urged repeated that instead of seeking to apply any ideal system of perfect reform in this industry, whft-t is required is the application of one. or more' operative principles. The first principle, which we would like to have seen tho conference unanimously affirm, is that all the labour employed at each port shall be engaged through a central bureau of registration and control, instead of, as in Wellington, by a dozen different employers. From Mr. Harkness’s remarks _ we gather that this principle of centralising the control of engagements is really what is wanted by those who supported the motion. It is noteworthy that the waterside workers’ representatives and at least a majority of the harbour boards’ delegates, affirm the desirability of centralising the' labour control. Tr this end, and at the same time to allof those directly concerned at each separate port power to adopt the method that will best suit their local requirements, we suggest that tho Government should this session bring down an amendment to the Harbours Act in this form:—To empower harbour boards to establish, or authorise the establishment, of a labour bureau for the port under their jurisdiction, through which all labour shall bo engaged. . It appears to us that such a provision might easily be passed into law without contention. It would not compel any harbour hoard to do what it may not be ready and willing to do. It would allow the boards that are ready to take the ‘responsibility to act in a practical way, instead of merely talking about it. The question of how the committee in charge of the bureau of control should be constituted could bo fully considered at those ports where the. boards are not. prepared to take over the duty, though we trust that in all instances the public interest will be fully conserved. Instead of interminable talk on the waterside problem we want to see something practical done. The first step, we submit, is to centralise the labour Control and have one authority engaging labour, not a number which more or less conflict. The present is a splendid opportunity for action, and we trust the Government will not hesitate, but act right away.- —We are, etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. TOTALISATOR ARRANGEMENTS Sir, —Allow me a little space, to com- ( inent on the system of issuing ’ tickets at the totalisator at Trentham. I find that the quickest system of issuing tickets is that iu vogue at Wingatui. There yen simply go up to the- window, give your number, and the man (the staff is composed of men) reaches up to a sliolf. avhe.ro he has all tho tickets in different numbered compartments, selects the ticket from the particular compartment, say 4, and stamps it with nn ordinary rubber stamp, and you luxve it without having him give it to another person. Out at Trentham the young lady who receives the money and the number you wish to hack has io turn and repeat that number to another lady, who is on the machine; she has-to press a button and issue the ticket, then give if. to the. first lady, and she, in turn, gives it to you. The weakness is duo to the system of going through two hands, and having-to repeat tho number twice. I don’t blame the young ladieson the contrary, I think they have been doing admirably, and deserve every credit for handling- the business so well. Men in the totalisator under, the. same system would do no better, but the system of repeating to the third person- the number and who may issue the wrong number through faulty hearing (when there ore numbers being repeated on all sides of her) is faulty for quick business. I was struck with the large amount of money that was shut out, due in a largo measure, to the slew system, also to tho insufficient number of 10s. windows open to the public. It is all very well to cater' for the £1 investors, but more accommodation should be given to the 10s. investor also. I have also noticed the system nt Riccarton. and find it far speedier also than nt Trentham. Having noticed tho Dunedin and Christchurch systems of issuing totalisator tickets, I must say that the 'Wellington system is too slow. Trusting that tho Racine Club' will adopt tho system in vogue nt Wingatui. T am, etc .] GEORGE LESLIE. [The Wellington Racing Club , abandoned the system advocated hr our correspondent wlten it introduced the electric totalisator. Racegoers generally would not be likely to favour a return to the old system, though they.would no doubt like to see a greater number of selling and pay-out windows.]

BUTTER PRICES gi r> —Our High Commissioner’s cabled report of produce prices in the London market on October 15, published in your issue of that date, gives the following butter quotations:— New Zealand colonial stocks, in quiet demand. October 15. 2045. to 208 s. October 8, 2055. to 210 s. October 1, 2055. Danish in small supply and price nom. innl, at about 2505. The Latter appears to bo the open market price, while the former are evidently (ho faked quotations of the Food Commissioner for stale butter carried over from last season. This, however, is unfortunately ruling the price hero for this season’s supply and reducing tho butter-fat price at all the dairy factories, and encouraging forward sales to speculators at ridiculous prices, and has as much relation to the value of prime butter of this season’s output as cart grease has to the stock now being retailed by the Food Commissioner. TheSe reports of the High Commissioner are very often misleading, and instead of being of value to our producers are only the cause of heart-burnings to consumers, who compare tho wholesale prices quoted for butter in bulk with tho retail price In pound 'blocks, sold over tho counter by the distributors here. It would silence many bickerings on tho part of our housewives if the High Commissioner would give, in addition to

the wholesale, the retail price per lb. nt, any of the Civil Service or Army and Navy stores, and these would be easily, obtainable, as no doubt some of his as* sistants are obtaining their household supplies at one or‘other of these cash stores.

Lord Northcliffo has told us that tho butter placed before him here was tho best he ever tasted, and being an old Londoner myself and partial to good bread and 'butter, 1 can affirm that the latter is hotter than "prime Dorset," which used to command the highest price at these stores. One. may as well com-' pare the price quoted at £3 10s. per toil for potatoes in the south with that charged for a shilling's worth in any of tho stores in Wellington.—l nm. etc.. FAIR PLAY IS BONNIE PLAY.