WATERSIDE WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 245, 13 September 1940, Page 6

WATERSIDE WORK.

CONTRACT SYSTEM. REPLY TO COMPLAINTS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Sept. 12. “The Water!rout Control Commission has been negotiating a separate contract with the Wellington Harbour Board to cover those men, employed by it on the' wharf to work with the men on the ship,” said Mr R. E. Price, c'hairman of the commission, tonight, in reference to the opposition which was expressed by a stop-work meeting of 700 Wellington watersiders regarding the co-operative control system of work.

“Difficulties which delayed the completion of this contract have been overcome, and it is expected that the contract will be completed before the end of this month. Regarding tho union complaint about lack of knowledge of the contract, a complete copy was posted to the executive last week in- time for tho stop-work meeting at. which the protest was made to-day.”

A further statement on the motion moved by Mr T. N. Warren and carried at the stop-work meeting of members of the Wellington branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union yesterday was made by Mr Price. “The full text of the resolution moved by Air Warren was placed before me to-day,” Mr Price said, “and I note it expresses a complaint because the contract system is operating while at tke same time complaining because it does not apply to all waterside workers. Surely this is inconsistency of the highest order. The resolution goes on to complain that nothing is known of the terms of the contract, and the mover (Mr Warren) emphasises this in speaking to the motion, yet he concludes by foretelling the ultimate effect of the contract lie claims to know nothing about. “Apparently mental acrobatics are not enough for Mr Warren, for he has coupled with them a disregard for fact. In his answer to my reply he admits t'he terms of the contract were fully discussed at the stop-work meeting at which the resolution was passed. A person so careless of accuracy and unbalanced of judgment deserves no further consideration, but for his own good he should accept advice and not again attempt to impart it,” Mr Price said.