ON THE WATERFRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16484, 25 February 1914, Page 12

ON THE WATERFRONT.

THE PREFERENCE CLAUSE

EMPLOYERS TO BE ASKED FOR A CONFERENCE.

MEETING OF UNION MEMBERS. Taking advantage of slack times on the waterfront, tlio members of the Lyttelton AVharf Labourers’ Union held a meeting in the Coronation Hall yesterday for tliq purpose of discussing a petition in reference to undue preference being given to a section of tho Union. Tho meeting was also hold for the purpose of entering a protest against an article published in a Christchurch newspaper on Friday last, which suggested further trouble at Lyttelton. Contrary to tho custom of the Union, the representatives of three newspapers were asked to attend tho meeting. There wore over two hundred members present, and the vice-president, Mr P. Heasley, presided. Mr J. Wilson, a member of the old Union, said 110 desired to move’ a protest against the article. In speaking to his motion, Mr AVilson said in his opinion the article was unfair and likely to place discredit on tlio men in the eyes of tho public as far as .tho conditions prevailing on the waterfront were concerned. No reasonable man could say that the report was a fair qne. Tho motion was seconded by Mr Smith.

A division was taken, and the motion only found one dissentient. Mr AVilson then rose and said that if the dissenting one thought the criticism a fair one he should give his reasons and take up the cudgels on behalf of his opinion. The opposition, however, failed to respond to the request. _ “ Mr Wilson then dealt with the present conditions of labour, and said tho position was untenable and no reasonable body of men could work under it. At present there were competent men standing on the beach who were not getting employment, whilst those incompetent could do so. It was only reasonable that men should bo given employment on their merits, but instead there were many obtaining work to the detriment of the competent ones. It would be more satisfactory if, the men knew how they stood in the matter, as the present position was not tenable to the men, and they did not know whether to remain in the port. The present conditions of wages, and so on had not been brought about by the strike, because if the strike had occurred eight or nine years ago the wages would not have been the same, and the new. hands should recognise that the present wages, were duo to the efforts of the old members, and should therefore stand by them as men and stand out against preference. Many of tho old hands were being victimised and a number of the new unionists who were now receiving preference were strikers from other parts of the dominion, and others who had taken part in tho Drivers’ Union strike at Christchurch. Tho position was intolerable. Continuing, Mr AVilson said that the present agreement had- been entered into by twenty-five employers representing shipping interests. He moved, “That every employer enrolled in the agreement be circularised by the secrotary asking for a conference as soon as possible to discuss a grievance that exists amongst a certain section of the Union as regards preference entered into between twenty-five employers representing shipping interests.” Failing this the speaker suggested that an application should be made to the Arbitration Court for an interpretation of the preference clause. Referring to the new men Mr AVilson said that if they were receiving preference they should look the matter fairly in the face, and throw over the preference and stand by the old members as men.

Mr J. Dunn then asked the secretary if he could inform the newspapers how many men were employed that day, and also the number of ex-strikers.

Subsequently the secretary supplied the information, which showed that six ex-strikers and fifty-five original arbitrationists were employed that morning, while six ex-strikers and twelve arbitrationists had been engaged for the dinner hour.

Mr Voyce: Has the agreement been ratified by the Arbitration Court?

The chairman : It has. Mr Voyce said so long as the present system remained on the waterfront there would bo dissatisfaction, as tho system was not a fair one. The older members of the Union had accepted the present agreement in toto and practically agreed that the work would be carried on in the usual manner. It was not a question of preference. The employers should bo prepared to consider the abilities of individuals and employ them accordingly. If this was done the ex-strikers would get their fair share. He had no desire to infer that the whole of the new members were incompetent. but he instanced a case of his own where the work had fallen practically on his own shouldlers. It was not fair, and if the employers expected an experienced hand to do the greater share of the work then the law of equity entitled a man to be paid accordingly. The original arbitrationists being members of organised labour should assist their fellowmen by all means within their power, and if 'liey were not prepared to do this they should remove themselves from the ranks. He was only speaking on behalf of a large number of married men who were struggling for a decent living. (Applause.) On a division being tken the motion was carried unanimously. A now unionist then rose and said he thought little would be gained by referring the preference clause back to the employers, as the latter had nothing to gain and nothing to lose, and they would please themselves in any case. In reply to Mr AVilson the secretary said there were still one hundred and fifty new unionists, and that the number had been increased by 0110 during tlie past few days, while another man who had been on the sick-list had also come back to work.

Mr AVilson: How many men have left their work and have been replaced by the strikers. The secretary then produced a return which showed that, including men 011 continuous jobs who had not turned up, the total had been twenty. Air >t ilson : AA’as it not a fact that a man who was not a member of the Union had been employed on the AA’aipori ? The Secretary: No. This concluded the business of the meeting for which the representatives of the Press had been asked to attend, and the reporters withdrew.