WATERSIDE WORKERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2585, 20 August 1909, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE:

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 19. At the Waterside Workers’ Conference to-day, a motion was passed calling upon the Government to institute arT inquiry into the extent of waste labor involved in the existing system of emploving labor to carry out waterside work,* and that legislation be provided to limit the numbers that shall be employed in such work to a number that can find a. living in it. Two workers contended that preference to unionists directly fostered the growth of superfluous labor, but a majority opposed these, statements. The mover of the motion maintained that the proper handling of the land question by the Government was the solution of the evil. The Conference also decided that the Government be requested to provide regulations for deterring shipowners from working cargo * with beams or hatches on. , Mi*. McLaren,> M.P., moved that the conference protests against harbor boards and shipping companies dumping cargo, on the ground that it means engaging large bodies of men for short periods, thereby making employment extremely casual, and! preventing men. from earning anything like a living wage. The motion was carried. The conference further discussed the question of Casual and permanent hands. On the motion of Mr. McLaren it was decided that steps be taken to have the occupations covered by the term “waterside work” fully defined by the Arbitration Court, so its to prevent the employment of permanent hands to the exclusion of casuals, seeing that the latter alone are bound by tho terms of the awards.