LABOUR MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 February 1908, Page 4

LABOUR MATTERS.

ARBITRATION COURT. ; • (ur T£LKGll.\riI —SrECIATj COItItESrOKDKNT.) i.Dunetiin, February 10., .. ; general manager of Kcnipthorne, Prossci',- and Co!, gi'vii'ig "oVidonco in the An hitratioii; Court to-day,:said tho amount of 'capital tlio company havo invested in manuro works* plant and-'stock throughout tlio Dominion ivas , £70,215. ■ Tlio number of men employed as raamiro workers in tlio Otago -and- Southland distj:ict:,;was 213, and the ; wagos,'paid thorn per annum . £1£,425. .For tlio Dominion- 'tlio .'number would probably be from. 1400 rt0.1500,' and the wages paid between, £60,000 and £70,000 per annum. Tlio Japancso manufacturers of chemical manures woro most clangorous, competitors. The Japaiieso had tho raw niatorial in their own country, thoy scoured labour •at Is. per day of.twelvo hours, and thoy could ship tho mauurcs to New Zealand at~a total cost of 10s. par ton. ) ( Tho cheapness ol this rato. could .bo'realised"ivhen it was known that it, cost ~12s:-0(1) rto ship a ton bf manure from Auckland to'Duncdm.

WHARF LABOURERS' DISPUTE. (Ny TEMaRArH—:BrECIAIi; COnnESrOXDENT.) Duncdin, February.lo. This- afternqon -fcb.e,,, JJnioii Steam Ship Company:- filed.,with- the Clerk of Awards a reference, to/the Arbitration Court, of a dispute between the Compariy and tho Wharf :Labourers|, Union. It p ,will ,be remembered ;tyb»ir§rs;i,at a recent meet-, ihg,.(decided to cancel thejr.registration as a U.uion,.:and .application"in"that direction was (ormilly made. TbSspft%them freo to act on their own initiative!' " They might strike, and not being undor the jurisdiction of the .Arbitration Act they'could not bo punished. Tho Act provides, l nWoyor,; that a cancellation rC3nnofe bo-allowed-; whilst a, dispute, is pending, isilha. Uniqji have now filed* a disputed. \a.The -application. made by the Wharf, LabourerSJ jUnion cannot therefore ibe granted untijh.tlje' present. dispute 'is disposed , of, and thai; 'cannot be before the i'Arbitration';.Court nextisits in; Dunedin.some six months, hence. A'i'llhe demands filed by ■ tho Company -make, cojisiderablo concession? to tho Union. - Thpifiours of labour are reduced, and tlio;, wages; or'mon working in cold ohambors; ; and on outports, are slightly : incrtped. tUettet!- condiKofts; are allowed - the s-inonu- y;an'd'> an extra holiday (Anniversary Day) iß»allowed.' Conditions of ' working',' through I "''meal' hours' aro,.' bettered, and a new condition, . "the engagement of labour at tho shelter shed at Wharf Street and.tho shed at- Victoria cWharf,". is provided. .A...trucJi;-loacL,fqU-tWQjne!i.,is not to exceed ■12civt'.f J, excopt' wheft i ceeds that woight," and for one man 5-Jcwt. :shall ,bo a load. When men aro ordered for a-job, and not put oil to work, they shall . rcceivo ono hour's pay at ordinary rates. Preference of employment is given to '•Unionists-.";•■Tho-'.uG®awatel- is to 'apply' only : to casual labour employed from day to day, and not to permanent employees, and shall .•apply /Only and the upper /harbouii. of Dunediti.' TJicC-remainder of tho dem&iids - filed 'fire' pfactrcally the 1 same, as those. embodied in the old, award. >

PALMERSTOX NORTH NOTES. .. (by..IELEGBAI-n— SPECIAL COMIIiBrONBENT.')i '.' ' Palmerstpn.North, February 10, r . i v.Mr, /jAndr.eiv interviewed, states that' : 'ho ; lias'.'beeii ; too busy to'.devote much tjrop'tQ v J;ho farm labourers organisation, but -nis arrangements, are, wqII. in hand.. As a result, of'tho notion of the employers fiv' refusing to givo evidence'.at tho recent) r&itting of the Conciliation Board in Palmerston North in 'connection -with', the. dispute between tho butter workers and employers, it has'.been d.ecided by thcrßoaTd to issue subponas.summoning, tho employers in tho various districts to attend -tho .'next'. sittings. j ; . and employees ,w connefctidriMntV'the pa'iiitors' and decorators'; dispute ipHty' bo held to-morrow; when there', are indications that matters will bo amicably settled. Tho Board will sit in connection with the shearers' dispute about .February 25, when thp ; ',?groefflejnt'...will bo broughtinto proper fornix; Great 1 satisfaction'is expressed at the settlement. . .-.

> '£h(i Palnicrston .bricklayers havo formed a strong- braiicli of the Wellington Association.