LABOURERS' DEMANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 5

LABOURERS' DEMANDS.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. CONFIDENCE IN FEDERATION. READY TO ACT SOW. Messrs P. C. Webb and W. Parry, president and vice-president, respectively, of tbe Federation of Labour, were interviewed this morning with regard to the meeting of general labourers which was held in *?t. James' Hall last night. The meeting was attended by between 400 and 500 members of the General .Labourers' Union, tlie president (Mr P. Fraser) in the chair, and Messrs Webb and Parrv were also present. The Press was not admitted. Mr Webb, speaking for himself and Mr Parry on behalf of the Federation executive, said thai the feeling of last night's meeting was that a firm stand was necessary and had to be taken at all costs. Mr Parry and he (Mr Webb) came to Auckland for the purpose of trying to avoid the trouble. The strike was to be the last resort as they realised the serious consequences of creating an industrial upheaval in a ciiy tbe size of Auckland. They were resolved that they would spare no pains to avoid trouble if it was possible to do so. They were quite convinced, after thorough investigation, that the general labourers of Auckland did have a grievance, and a grievance of such a character that it was of importance to all the members of the Federation of Labour and to all workers in New Zealand. The whole position was placed before the men last night, and the men unanimously decided that the whole matter be left in the hands of the Federation executive to deal with. It was contrary to fact to surest that the general opinion was that the time was inopportune to insist upon their demands. The meeting was emphatic thai, the time was opportune to put up a fight in the interests of the general labourers of this town.

Mr Fr;iser (president of the General labourers" Union) said that the resolution passed at the meeting was one of complete confidence in the ability of the executive of the Federation to handle the matter, and the members present fully realised that the Federation was making the union's fight the of the Federation, LOCAL BODIES' EMPLOYEES. GENERAL SCALE ADOPTED. The Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association has approved of the new schedule of wages as adopted by the City Council for the general labourers in its employ. This decision was arrived at last night at a meeting attended by Messrs IV. J. Coylc (Jit. Albert) presiding, W. R. Bloomfieid and W. Jones (Epsom Road Board), J. Hawkins (Arch Hill Road Board), W. H. Murray (Grey Lynn), H. A. <Jood (Kden Terrace Road Board), (~ Bagley (Mt. Roskill Road Board), \V. Handler (Deronport), XV. Kookes (Newmarket). R- S. Briggs (Parnell). and P. Spencer (Remuera Road Board). The Association's recommendation will be forwarded to the affiliated bodies, an exception to the City Council's schedule being made in the case of single and double drivers, ae work of this nature it usually carried out by contract in the surburban districts. The Association also decided to meet the Stonemason's Union in conference ! with a view to arranging for improved conditions for workers on kerbing and channelling. MUST BE UNDER ARBITRATION

ACT. Mr M. J. Coyle. Chairman of the Suburban Local Bodies' Association, who presided at last night's meeting, explain* with regard to the schedule of wages approved by the Association last night, and submitted to the various affiliated local bodies for favourable consideration, that such agreements as are come to between the local body and its workmen must be in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr C. J. Parr) also intimated in Ms statement published in last night's "Star" that while the CSty Council was perfectly willing to enter into agreements with its own men, all agreements must be arranged through the process of the Arbitration Court. COAL MINER'S DISPUTE SETTLED. A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WESTPORT, this day. A conference between the representative* of the coal ownrs association and delegates of deputies engaged in the coal mines of the West Coast made a mutual agreement. The chief demand of the deputies w*s an advance on their present rate of wages (12s. 6d.) per day to 13s. 4<L with overtime. The claim was compromised on the basis of a weekly wage of JE4. A satisfactory agreement was woe to.

SEQUEL TO WELLINGTON STRIKE. ACTION AGAINBT TRAMWAY UNION (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Labour Department has commenced proceedings against members of the Wellington Tramways Union as a body, for alleged breach of the Arbitration Act in going out on strike recently.

ARBITRATE OR STRIKE ! RAILWAY MEN APPROVE OF UNITY SCHEME. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON.. Wednesday. The attitude of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants towards the labour movement in general was the question dealt with at to-day's Conference of the railwaymen'a organisation. It was ultimately derided to give conditional support to the "unity" scheme put forward by Professor Mills and the trades and labour councile. The delegates were unanimous in the opinion that Professor MiUs's unity scheme was one that would, with some slight alteration, merit the support of all working class organisations, and that, as they were one of the largest of those organisations, it was their duty to give practical assistance in bringing the proposals of that scheme into effective operation. In doing thi3 they were bnt assisting others to assist themselves. The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to:—(1) "That the unity scheme be commended to the membea-of

the A£SL&.;" (2) "that a vote be taken of the whole society on the question of joining the scheme;" (3) "that the delegates be appointed provisionally to attend the Easter Conference;" (*4) "'that such delegates be instructed that in th* event of any proposal being carried t't :D would inTolve the disintegration of the A.S-R.S. as at present constituted, they are to withdraw forthwith, and not commit our members to the scheme or «ny part of it." The Government is to be asked to grant the right to the A.S.R.S. to ;i. o effect to these proposals.