STIGMA RESENTED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 76, 20 September 1911, Page 2

STIGMA RESENTED

ANGRY WHARF LABORERS. 1 THE DETECTION OF CARGO PILLAGING. I Auckland, Monday. ■Some four weeks ago the executive of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union passed a resolution having for its object the suppression of cargo-broaching amongst members of the union, and power was given to deal with offenders who were not made the subject of policu prosecution, the punishment even going to the extent of expulsion, and the power that the union held was regarded as having a very steadying effect on any member who had an inclination in the direction of helping himself to goods. A little while ago, in consequence of the agitation of the tally-clerks for a severance from the wharf lumpers' ward, and the action taken thereon by the Arbitration Court, the union decided not to take any further action in the matter of detecting pillaging and punishing the culprits. Tins position of affairs Mr. E. Canham, president of the union, explained to the court on Thursday, in giving evidence in connection with a charge of pillaging against a wharf lumper, and it provoked some comments from 'Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., from the bench. In sentencing the accused to a month's imprisonment, the magistrate deprecated the .fact that the union had ceased to take an interest in the matter of pillaging, and suggested that there were cogent reasons why the former action should not be continued, ■ln the course of a. .short chat on the subject of the magisterial comments with Mr. Canham this morning, it was learnt by a Star reporter that the Waterside Workers' Union were firm in their determination not to take any further responsibility in relation to cargo-broaching by members of the union. The whole trouble had arisen over the now notorious tag appended 'by the Arbitration Court to the waterside workers' award, reflecting on the honesty of the members. The tally-clerks were not only granted exemption from the award without good reason, but the court practically constituted them private detectives to discover pillaging if carried on by the laborers. The workers were keenly incensed at the stigma which the whole tiling implied, and came to the conclusion that the only reasonable course was to leave the detection of crime to those who were considered to be the most trustworthy and efficient, and in future not to take any responsibility. Mr. Canham pointed out that, if Mr. Cutten had taken cognisance of the reasons advanced for the decision of the union, his remarks would have presented a different complexion. "But was there sufficient justification in the action of the court to warrant the union taking up such a position?" queried the reporter. "We considered there was ample reason," replied Mr. Canham, - 'and anyone working on the wharves at the time, and acquainted with the general feeling existing and the actual state of affairs, would have agreed with us. The action taken was on all-fours with the exemption of a respectable body of citizens from civil war, and in effect creating them private detectives to discover crime. In entertaining a friend, a man would not know whether or not the guest, while enjoying his hospitality, was not doing police work. It was an intolerable position."