At the Waterfront

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 15

At the Waterfront

["Nautilus" would be pleased to receive items of interest to Dominion Waterside Workers. Address: c/o Maoriland Worker, P.O. Box 727, Wellington.!

By NAUTILUS.

The Pukaki, U-S.S. Co., met with some delay at Timaru on September 30, owing" to the coal gangs refusing to take the dirty work. It seems that Timaru has no recognised coal gangs, as in Wellington and Auckland, and many of the men there dislike to be contantly put on to the shovel whilst their more fortunate comrades obtain the cleaner cargo work.

A feeling of uncertainty was experienced round the waterfront at the first of the month. Tho local officers of the mosquito fleet have been badly dealt with by that fossilised machine, the C. and A. Court. Having scrambled on their knees for a bob or two increase, and having failed to gain same from that apostle of class-con-sciousness, Judge Sim, they decided to get themselves on their feet and walk ashore. Their smug U.S.S. Co. comrades of the brass braid and band, having nothing in common with the small' fry, stayed aboard. The result so far has been negative. The Shipowners' Federation reports that no difficulty has been found in filling the places of these unfortunate victims of sectional unionism. Several scabs are hovering round, and promptly capped the sore spot. Asked previously regarding their intentions, a prominent mosquito officer said "that their intentions were to stay aboard till definite action had been taken by the the combined seamen in January. Seemingly the union of swabs and shovels has not forgotten, the severe bite of the Dug given in /DO, when the same quarterdeck gentlemen turned dusty after their own demands had been acceded to. This time methinks the swab and shovel and tickets will decline to go ashore on the same box. * * * The s.s. Kent caught fire at Auckland whilst lying at Queen street wharf, on Monday, October 2nd. The fire is believed to have started in a crate of straw packing. No extensive damage was done to either ship or <;argo. * * * Bob Semple had a good hearing when addressing the watersiders at Wellington on Saturday, September 30. Louis Glover took the chair. After discoursing on the need of the wharfmen linking up with the Federation, a vote was taken on the question, and resulted in a unanimous decision favouring the idea of One Big Union. In all probability a ballot will be taken shortly to decide definitely whether the Yv.W.L.U. will join as a body or wait on the fossilised W.W. Federation. a * * Auckland AVater«ide Workers' Union has seceded from the Trades and. Labor Council, and in all probability the various kindred unions on the N.Z. coast will shortly do the same, with a- view of joining the more militant organisation, the N.Z.F.L.

A number of employe re- ha.vo_written to tlie Auckland WAY. Union ing that it should dc-rd with individual members found guilty of pilfering on the wharves, and the answer was the unanimous passing of the following resolution : —"That, although this Union deplores the fact that any waterside worker should develop a trait in his character which is fostered by the present capitalistic system (which encourages the incentive to gain from others, thereby causing wrongdoing from a moral aspect), we of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union will not condemn any individual member of this Union, seeing, as- we do, .that the liresent capitalistic system is based upon the appropriation of other people's property.''

Greymouth is evidently making preparations for a great increase of trade in the near future. In the course of his annual address, tlie Chairman of the Board said: "The Harbour Board has now completed the preliminary work of repairs to plant, machinery, and railway lines, and has eventually settled difficulties of land appropriation and titles. Active prosecution of the lagoon docks scheme is new under way, and as soon as tlie dredge can bo let into the lagoon operations for the construction of a sheltered basin to accommodate three "X" type steamers will be commenced, and at the same time the northern mole will be repaired and extended. The new dock will be equipped with the most modern cranes, which will greatly facilitate tho'handling and dispatch of an increasing volume of timber and coal. In this connection I would mention that an application we made to the Government fo ran extension of tho present wharf 350 feet further downstream, that is, to tho lagoon outlet, did not meet with the Minister's approval, and this important work has been delayed pending further representations being made, with tho result that double-banking of steamers had to bo resorted fo, with consequent delays and umi ceo. sarv risks to shipping.-' -

The Stevedore and Trimmers Bill came before the British. House of Commons in July last. The measure seeks to locate the owner or the responsible party who can be made to pay compensation for accident. Many ships trading to Great Britain are owned abroad, and a man meeting with an accident is at a loss to fix the responsibility of payment for injury. This Bill and its .amendments seeks to attach tho ship until such time as tho unfortunate worker is paid in full. An Act such as this is needed in N.Z. ; difficulty is sometimes found in placing the responsibility on the necessary parties.