Waterside Whispers.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 13, 2 June 1911, Page 12

Waterside Whispers.

("Nautilus" would be pleased to receive iteme of interest to Dominion Waterside Workers. Address: C/o JMaoriland Worker, P.O. Box 727, Wellington.)

Jack Mauley, an old worker on Wellington wharf, died at the hospital on Wednesday, May 17.

The tendency amongst far seeing wharf employers is to avoid tactics which will have the effect of waking the men from their apathy. We see the eld time bully-ragging bosses being pushed out as opportunity offers; the> are being replaced with quiet system atic organisers.

Mr. Poynton, the arbitrator in the recent P'atea strike settlement, refused the Patea Avatersides an increase in pay because the trade of Patea in his opinion did not warrant the increase. But the expansion of trade from Patea to Wellington has prompted the Patea Shipping Company to call privately for tenders for the- building in New Zealand of a new wooden steamer to cope with next season's, frozen produce output from Patea. This is a startling refutation, of his faulty decision.

In the Supreme Court Mr. A. W. Blair made an application to his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman concerning a case of interest to shipping companies owning steamers plying in inter-ocean trade. The parties to the action are the captain and owners of the steamship Durham, plaintiffs, and the Collector of Customs, defendant. Plaintiffs will make application for an order under the Declaratory Judgments Act interpreting section 75 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act declaring whether the current rate of wages for seamen in the New Zealand coastal shipping trade is, under all circumstances, payable to seamen, employed on a ship arriving from abroad and carrying coastaa ise freight between two New Zealand ports A Letter of Weight : Sir, —One of the most degrading spectacles in N.Z. is i>he system whereby men are herded; together on our wharves in order to obtain employment.

To see three or four hundred men pushing and shoving each other in their eagerness to get a job, with one more fortunate individual scanning the multitude with a book in his hand, picking out the big from the small, the swift from the slow, the young from the old, reminded mc of the stories I had read of the old slave markets. All that it required, I thought, was the auctioneer'si hammer and block to complete the scene. Passing these crowds every morning are people landing from the ferries and many of them have remarked on the pitiful look of expectancy on all faces, partictilarly on those of the older men. 1 have often asked myself the question—ls there no other way of telling these men they are needed for work. I contend it is a disgrace to a civilised community. If it is the custom of the waterside we sbxrald change it.—Yours, etc., MARTHA JOHNSOGSL Mr. John Patterson suffered severe injuries to his lower jaw by being struck with an iron wedge which flew out during the overhaul of the dredp-o "MaAvera" at the Patent Slip, "Wellington. His jaw was fractured and his injuries necessitated him being taken to a private hospital. Mr. Patterson's long connection with tho Patent Slip has gained him a wide circle of acquaintances in shipping circles, all of whom regret his accident!