EXPANSION OF TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 5

EXPANSION OF TRADE.

CBy Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLEJGTOJy this-.iday. ~- Interesting figures showing the expansion of trade so far as it lias affected the Union - Steam Ship Company were furnished by Mr. J. F. Kirby, in opening the case for the Company -before the Arbitration Court, which is now. dealing with the wharf labourers' dispute. Mr. Kirby said that-since-1903 :: tha volume of work done by his company at Wellington had increased by 75 per cent. In one week, in October of the year 19037 the company"paicT to the waterside worker £ 603 in-wages. During a single week in October-last year £1109 was paid, and the present treek the company would pay £ 1179: -Because the volume" "of -trade had increased- the earning powers of the men had similarly increased. Last year the Union Company employed on an average from 200 to 250 labourers working its coals, and the quantity handled was 422.207 tons. The wages paid for their work totalled no less than £30,597 17/10. The demands of the union meant a 17 per cent increase on the present rates, or £5201 per annum. The total quantity of coal handled in the port last year was 545,449 tons. At Lyttelton (where slightly higher rates were paid) only 137,900 tons were handled. In Auckland slightly higher rates were also paid, and there 109,601 tons had been handled. The demands of the Union would mean an annually increased cost to his company of £7000 approximately. -Mr. S. Brown: On all heads? Mr. Kirby: We could not take all heads in our calculation, but approximately that is what it would mean.