THE WATER FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1921, Page 1

THE WATER FRONT

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PnESS ASSOCIATION^ LATEST WELLINGTON REPORT. MEN TOLD TO RESUME. WELLINGTON, February 23. There was no material alteration in the position on the waterfront to-day, except that the number of ships idle was considerably augmented. The Secretary of the Watersiders’ Federation. .Mr Roberts was approached again to-day, but declined to make any statement for publication. At the Harbour Board meeting to-

night, the chairman, Mr J. G. Harkncss, referred to the clauses which, led up Dr the crisis on the waterfront. It had been argued that the refusal to work overtime was due to individual action on the part of the men, but lie said they could not overlook the fact that it was carried out apparently very systematically. The question arose whether it was not done through concerted action of the unions? If, how-j ever asked for his unbiased opinion, he would say that it was not going to be a serious tiling. He thought the men were in the wrong. ’They must admit it. He was hopeful that next week would see the men returning to work and carrying out the agreement ill its entijreity. A spcicial point in that connection, of course, was whether it would be possible to get some guarantee of work being carried out nc-f-ording to the agreement Itetween the shipping companies, the Harbour Board and the Union. A lengthy discussion followed, in the (ourso of which several members expressed the opinion that casual labour was the root cause of flic trouble, and contended that the dual system of control of waterside labour should be abolished, and the Harbour Board ought to be the sole employers of lalxmr on the wharves.

Mr Chapman, Labour member said the real cause of the present trouble was the refusal of the shipowners to meet the men at a second conference to discuss the three shillings bonus.

Mr Turroll, shipowners’ Jrepre.sentnt ive said the Award gave* the men threefarthings an hour, but the shipowners bad offered them one penny an hour. The men had refused it. So where was the use of > a second conference ? The shipowners could not give more. The men should abide by flic Award of the Court, and carry out the agreement. The Chairman said the Board was not directly concerned in the present dispute.

Mr Turroll said that if the shipowners gave way one the overtime question, the Board would be etjifjjJly affected. Mr Wright said : “The shipowners are fighting the Bonrd’s - battle.”

Mr Hark ness said that lie meant that tin* Board was not directly concerned in originating the dispute. He recognised the Board was affected once the dispute was begun. They had to bear the loss. He earnestly hoped that the matter would be amicably settled, and that the men would go back to work next week.