WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1902, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday. THE DISCHARGE OF CO-OPERA-TIVE WORKMEN. So far as the Minister for Public Works can learn, the men who were recently discharged from the North Island Main Trunk railway works have been absorbed in other employments. The silence of the men themselves is one thing which is taken to indicate that such has been the case. Practically no complaints about the action of the Government have been received by the Minister from the discharged men. UNVACCINATED CHILDREN. Information in possession of the Public Health Department shows that in the Wellington provincial district 75 per cent, of children under five years of age are unvaccinated. This is considered to have a serious side in view of the present steady development of small-pox in London. THE WELLINGTON MAYORAL SEA'J Mr. Wilford, M.H.R., will contest the Wellington Mayoralty. Preparations are being made for an influential deputation to wait on Mr. John Duthie, and ask nan to contest the Wellington Mayoralty. WELLINGTON, this day. A VOLUNTEER GRIEVANCE.

Another grievance has occurred between the Defence Department and the younger volunteer corps. It has been the custom of the Department for some years past to make an advance of capitation to the new corps, to enable the latter to provide themselves with uniforms. A few months ago several newly-formed companies ordered uniforms in the belief that their portion of the capitation would meet the liability, but when au application was made the Department did not accede to it, and the corps are now confronted with an unpaid tailor's bill.

THE FACTORIES ACT. A "Dressmaker," writing in the "Post," again raises the question of wages to boys and girls, as specified in the wages clause, s of the Pactory Act. The writer says that with the object of preventing the "sweating" of young people employed in shops and factories, the Legislature provided in the Factories Act of last session that boys and girls under sixteen years of age employeu. in a factory must receive not less than 5/ a week, and therefore an annual increase of not less than 3/ weekly till twenty years of age. The writer conteims that on the face of it that means mat every young person would receive _/ a week for the first year of his or her employment, with an annual rise of 3/. The Labour Department, however, has put a different interpretation on the section, and insists _nat girls shall be paid according- to age—that although a girl of sixteen has had no previous experience she must get S/ a week, and so on up to twenty years of age. The position of employees therefore is something like this: A girl of fifteen receives 5/ a week, at the end of two years has acquired a gooel deal of experience, anel is honestly worth the 11/ a week which the law says she shall receive; but a girl of seventeen, who has only just come into the workroom, aud has had no previous experience, must, according to the Labour Department, also be paid 11/ a week, which is a manifest injustice both to the employer, who has to pay far more, than the older girl's services are worth, and to the girl who has had two years' experience anel finds that she is only receiving the same wage as her fellow-worker who has had no experience at all. "Dressmaker" declares the result will be that employers will refuse to give employment to any but boys and girls well under sixteen years of age, anel may dispense with the services of several hands who are paiel more than their services are worth to the employers, which must result iv much hardship. It is argued that the real object of the Legislature was to abolish the system under which boys and girls gave a year's service for nothing, and provided that these young people should receive for the first year not less than 5/ a week, with an annual rise of 3/. The idea that the Lecrislature intended a rate for age1" system of pay is ridiculed, but it is suggested that a test case should be sent to the Sunreme Court. THE PREMIER. The Premier returned to Wellington to-day (Friday).