WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2611, 20 September 1909, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

DEPUTATION TO HON. J. A. MILLAR. [Per Press Association.'! WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. A deputation waited on the Hon. JA. Millar last right to lay before him the resolutions pa-ssed at the recent Waterside Workers’ Conference. Replying. the Minister said Borough Councils had power to purchase .land near a borough for workers’ dwellings. He did not see how elective means could be devised to decide what was sufficient space for shovelling coal. _ It was a big thing to ask that all Bhips’ holds be lighted by electricity. If he could secure information cf neglect by inspectors to examine gear it would be inquired into. The English Board of Trade would not af.ow interference with ships registered in England. Several matters on which legislation was asked could be better made the subject of an arrangement between hipowners and the union. Hi's new Bill would provide that Harbor Boards must supply ambulance stretchers and obtain immediate medical aid in eases of accident. He was not inclined to reduce the minimum number necessary to form a union, as he did net favor a number of small unions. An amendment to the Shipping and Seamen’s Act and a Harbor Boards Bid would He introduced during the conun rr session. Pne question of waste of labor in matersice work was a big one. It was impossible to limit waterside vw : T without limiting all trades. Unfortunately the wharf was the dumping ground for ah classes of unemployed labor.