At the Waterfront.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 16, 23 June 1911, Page 12

At the Waterfront.

6-»-m ii-%x-& 'Qxsza • "«r.-& By NAUTILUS. ("Nautilus" would b-e pleased to receive items of interest to Dominion Waterside W'-orliora. Address: C/o Maorilaud Worker, i-.0. Box 727. Wellington.;

This column is anxiously waiting for a, report from the Waterside Workers' Federation. The Secretary, we know, has boon busy helping the men at the Bluff. Why not some member of the Executive undertake t-'o correspond regularly. The Union want the news — Here is the best avenue.

Good news! The Patea Waterside Workers Union have deckled to suppry each member with a copy of The Maoiuland WoiiKEK, weekly. The baby union leads the way to progress, who will be tlie next to follow ? Now Lyttelton, Wellington, whero aro you?

Tho Timaru Union is alive, and Mr. Allen, stevedore for tho Shaw, Savil Coy., knows it to his sorrow, li. Carl and 11. Gould (secretary), who had toiled 7 years for tho latter firm, were stood off from work on the s.s. Tokomaru because they had taken _an active part in the Union. Their comrades stood by them to a man and made Allen eat the leek. Tho manager of the Company was interviewed hy a deputation consisting of Messrs. King, D. Mclvenzio and B. jiarkley and he ordered Allen to reinstate them. This undoubtedly was a clear case of victimisation, and it says a goo-d deal- for the fighting spirit of the Timaru men to stand by their officials in the way they did.

From all accounts there lias been a real livo secretary elected in the Timaru Union. Mr. C. Gould, an industrial Unionist and Socialist. The small ports will beat the larger ones yet for virility.

A deputation consisting of various members and officials of tho W.W.L.TT., recently waited on the Minister for Labour, requesting, amongst other things, the amendment of tlie Harbour Regulations to provide for greater protection of life and limb ; the inspection of ships' gear, etc. As a result the Minister has gazetted the* following amendments : "'When cargo is being worked on a vessel the master shall sco that the following things are don-a" : —

1. All hatch beams shall be moved clear of the hatchways. 2. Tha deck approaches to hatch ladders shall be kept clear of all obstructions. 3. All pipes which are laid above the surface of the deck shall be properly covered up so as not to bo an obstruction to men working on deck.

4. The strops of all baskets used in working cargo shall be thoroughly examined once a month and restropped when necessary, and a record of such examination shall be made in the official log in case of a vessel in which such a log is kept. 5. All cargo derricks and their gear shall be kept in proper order. 6 A supply of drinking water shall be provided in proper receptacles for the use of men working cargo. All persons lhatving control of hydraulic cranes which are used in working cargo on vessels shall see that the levers havo the pins in proper working order. The penalty for a breach of any of the above regulations is not to ■exceed £100.

Many of these new regulations were tho happy after-thoiight of Mr. G. G. Farland, who placed them before the Minister in case the Inspectors—chiefly asked for by the deputation—were nob granted. They do not look much on paper, but they mean a good deal to tho men who are bearing the heat and burden—coal lumping. Noav f. ?

their administration. Will tho Government fail in that part?

Mrs. Bailey, whose husband was killed on Glasgow wharf by being whirled to pieces on a hydraulic capstan, received £1250 in compensation. The Harbour Board is now vigorously inspecting all the gear. Quite so. But it's too late for poor Bailey.

•'And Millar has come to light is the general comment re the new harbour regulations along the Dominion waterfront. The watersiders expected a good deal from Millar, who was onco for a brief spell—a wharfie himself. He missed the most needed amendment —the regulation of the number of gangs in a coal hatch—-but perhaps—next time—keep agitating, ye lumpers.

Tbe coal workers of Wellington havo been debating the merits and demerits of tho two Federations. The general opinion is that they would get more assistance from the miners who could stop the coal at the pit mouth than

from tbe cooks and waiters refusing to serve Kennedy McDonald 1 * xJirrner. Juab you -boom The Worker And the wharfies will soon come into line. There are a few reactionaries hanging on the tail of progress* have patience.

When you ihave xead your Wotrker pass it nn, don't leave it lying about at home. Put it in the •waiting room, where some one will aread it. Tell your mates about it.

Biljim: Yes; the watersiders just fruited into the Cooks and Waiters' Federation. It was thrown out in all the live ports. Wellington, I/yttelton and Westport. In all likelihood another ballot will be soon taken. Tlie men are finding out their mistake. They must have the protection of the primary industries. The distributive industries are slender ends to depend on in time of trouble. Your own sense will tell you that. Look at the bakers strike in Wellington

Thus a correspondent: The Greymouth Watersiders have a fine football club this season. They have a senior and junior team in the competitions, and for their iirst season they are doing remarkably well. Though keen on the ball, many of them recognise the fact of the ever-present economic struggle, and are eager to do with our natural resources what they do so -well with the baII—TAKE AND HOLD.