WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 45, 14 July 1914, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

TI-IE PROPOSED NEW ORDER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The decision of the Auckland waterside workers to oppose any new arrangement such as the formation of a permanent staff that- might interfere with the working conditions now in existence on the Auckland waterfront was mentioned to the chairman of the Harbor Board, Mr. Gunson. In reply, the chairman explained the position as,far as the Board was concerned. "T]ie 'special resolution adopted last Wednesday by the Board," he said, "has been conveyed to the Prime Minister. T!ie Board did not consider this matter with a view to initiating a scheme to bring about a change in the present conditions on the Auckland waterfront, but the question was considered in response to tlhe Government's request for information as to the attitude of the Board. It was, therefore, obviously the duty of the Board to express its opinion, in order that legislation, if any is enacted, may not be of such a character as to prejudice either the Board or others concerned. "It is admitted," continued the chairman, "that the conditions in Auckland are more satisfactory than they have been for many years, and unless further cause arises than at present exists, or unless there is some indication that it would be in the public interests for the Board to move in the matter, the policy of the Board will be to leave well alone. We are watching with very great interest the development in Wellington, < where some arrangement has been entered into to bring about separate control of labor there. .We shall probably learn some lessons from that quarter. I am not Very "hopeful that what is being done, there will prove successful, as the changing of control and merging of interests will probably be found inconvenient and calculated to produce friction,"