WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 166, 4 July 1908, Page 2

WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Ust Night. Mr. Furlaud (Wellington) moved at t'Uu Waterside Workers' Conference today: ••That the Conference institute full enquiry info the individual conditions of the men with the object of providing ii scheme for a better distribution of the work."

Mr. I'arlaiHl said there were men i work in Wellington who hail been work ing tor Some time tor £4 or £5 week and tlien found their wages reclni ed by outside competition to a few alii] lings a week. He cited eases of mci who had been live months oil the wlnir and had earned an average of 25s ; week, others 30s, 355, <a fo od, £2 am •IDs. The remit was adopted. Air. Far land moved: "That Die employers o wharf labor be compelled Lo show jusi cause and reason for diseriminatin; against any man who lias been employ ed for a period of lime in this individual department, the secretary of the I'liion to act as adjudicator in all cases, and. thai, the hours of engagement be such that men can leave the waiting rooms periodically.-' Mr. McLaren suggested that discrimination would only affect u few men and he submitted to the conference Hull the executive take the matler in hand together with the secretaries of the unions in order lo obtain plans lor the fair and equitable distri' but ion of work at the different poitN, ami that the (.iovernnient establish tile boards of appeal where wises of nkuu wlro had been discharged could lie .« r vcshgiitcd. He had known cases of men who had been employed on the wharf ten or lit teen years deprived of tliei.living and no reason given by ihe employers, If a union secretary were ap-. pointed adjudicator he woiild'lie regard-' ed as an interested person, Therefore 1a.,11, should be instituted. Mr. , oncf co sidered that Secretaries of union! luio the responsible persons. AJr McUron objected that Hie secretaries est ~oss,b e way. Tlie secretary should be one of the union's own men. Mr M c ! i.arcn s suggestion was then p„t in the f»n„ of an amendment and c-arried. The .liicstion of who should supply Z .ii'sed. A resolution was carried uf/ tools m '° m ' S wil " workiiiK