WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 178, 26 January 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

WATERSIDE WORKERS AND SHIPPING COMPANIES. A CURIOUS POSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. Much interest is being taken in the curious position that lias arisen in Auckland with regard to the waterside workers and some of. the local shipowners. A conference between representatives of the Auckland waterside workers and representatives of those shipowners who have cited' the men to attend a sitting of the Conciliation Council next Tuesday, was opened yesterday afternoon, when it became known that no common basis of agreement could be arrived at. Rumours of the inevitable strike began to float about and to be taken more or less seriously. That, however, is hardly the correct assumption to make from the known circumstances. It may be said that not only is a strike highly improbable, but it is entirely unnecessary. At the recent conference in Wellington between representatives of shipowners and waterside workers throughout the Dominion a common agreement was arrived at after ten clays' discussion. The Auckland watersiders and eighty per cent, of the owners concerned in the shipping interests of 1 Auckland were represented at the conference. In the meantime a section of the Auckland shipowners had cited 1 lie ment to appear before the Conciliation Commissioner with a view to arriving, at .an agreement which would subsequently become an award to take the place of ! the award which lapsed at the end of last year. . ~ ■ , Mr. C. W. Holdsworth, who presided' at the conference, wired to the section of owners standing out, and suggested that they also send representatives, but: the suggestion was not acted upon. The position now is that the Auckland waterside workers will not attend the sitting of the Conciliation Commissioner .next week, so that that method of arriving at an agreement will not be practicable. The men wired the shipowners in question to fall into line with the agreement that has been ratified by the majority of the shipowners. If the mat-i ter Is taken further to the Arbitration Court, any agreement that may possibly be made need not for practical purposes, it is claimed, affect the men. There will, it is heard, he plenty of work: for them • with the shipping companies which have agreed to the decision of the conference, \ : ■ The ballot which was commenced 'on Monday morning to determine whether the union favors the cancellation its registration under the Arbitration Act, following upon the decision of the .waterside workers to join the Federation of Labor, is proceeding.