At the Waterfront

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 65, 7 June 1912, Page 12

At the Waterfront

The Casual Overseer. _

By P. J. KERR. Whilst perusing the notes from the waterfront iv the issue of Tun \\ oniCEit of April 1, 1. was surprised to see an attack by "Nautilus" on the waterside workers who- oppose the casual overseer. Not being acquainted with tho conditions that obtain in ports other than Lyttelton, I will confine my remarks to that port only. Being an Industrial Unionist, it.may appear an anomaly that I should adopt the attitude l'have towards the casual overseer. Whilst recognising that ho is a wage-slave of the same order as myself, I will not for a moment- admit that our positions are identical. In the first place, fur ono to be fitted to hold the position of overseer successfully it is absolutely necessary that one should have the interest of the firm ho represents at heart, and for one who has the interest of a contracting shipping firm at heart to also have the interest of a labor organisation at heart is impossible under the present competitive system. To-day he is working with you in a ship's ■ hold, and to-morrow ho is walking the dock driving his fellow union mate to his last pound of energy, whilst Vested Interests with the hideous paunch and unquenchable desire for wealth stands by chuckling to himself over the prattle of the unionist who swears to make an injury to ono an injury to all, and to fight eacli for all .andall for each, Vested Interests mean- . while quietly pooketiug the- profits that i you and your ovcrsoeing union mato ihavft pcoduoed, iln tho second place, I have been told that it is more expensive to the firm , to employ; casual ororsfwrw in place of permanent, ones. Well, I take that as an

insult to the. managerial abilities of the firms who employ casual overseers,, and I for one have- not met the watcr.-udo worker with sufficient intelligence </0 instruct said firms as to tlio most profitable methods of conducting their businesses. Another argument that lias Iveu advanced in favor of his inclusion as a member of a.union is (hat, if excluded, ho would bo a menace in time of vrouhlo, that through his practical experience and ability he could coach scabs. Kow, what has been Lyttelton's experience'r 1 It was resolved at a general meeting of 300 members that ;'n> member of the union accept a casual overseer's position. Less than 10 members voted against flic resolution, and thoy were men who had Ik-.mi in the habit of accepting these positions. Within a week, In the face of such resolution, certain members were again accepting these positions. Now, in which position are these creatures the biggest menace -inside the organisation when thoy defy the mandates of the organisation as they please, or outside, when you know which hide of the fence they ar" •:ii ? Jf U:eso men desire the protrvtion of a union— which I admit all. w.-ige-,slav--s cto —they should form a permanent hancir,' union and affiliate with tlio Federation of Labor. I feel assured that the Federation, subject to conditions, would be only too pleased to accept and assist then); and I havo no doubt that when properly organised such a body would lie a very desirable acauisition. It is to be sincerely hoped that conference gave ; this question its deepest consideration : and effectually solved a difficulty which at any moment might cause an indusi trial upheaval. i ■__,