LABOUR MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 174, 16 April 1908, Page 8

LABOUR MATTERS.

INCREASED WAGES, AT THAMES: s tm TELIiCHArU—PHES3 ASSOCIATION. I I ■ - Thames, April 15. A conference of representatives of mining companies operating in the Thames, Ka'rangahakc, and Coromandel districts and the Thames .Miners'; Union, 1 which possesses' a large number of workers in each district, was held yesterday. ■ The business was ,to] discuss conditions and fix a. rate of 'pay- for',miners and others. The delegates, from tho Union asked for an increase in ' pa.y" for miners,' blacksmiths,' and winding engineers. The 'proceedings were of a raostamicabla nature, a true spirit of conciliation being shown on both sides. '.It..was unanimously decided to grant increases of wpgos as under.:—Miners, from Bs. to, Bs. 6d. per day; blacksmiths, 9s. Gd.; winding ongin'oers, 9s. to "10s. . These aro v pra<;tically the • same rates as thoso' prevailing in other portions of the goldficlds where the men are working under an award of the. Arbitration Court. ' This opinion was oxpressed that owing to the presence' of mineral . in the water _and the general conditions underground the increase to the men was in every way justified. . ' .

AUCKLAND MANUFACTURERS HINDERED. ' : . Auckland, April 15. The acutencss' of- the labour" problem was pointed out by; Mr. Arch. Clark, chairman of the Auckland Industrial Association,' yesterday./He said the prejudice against local industries had been to' a ■ great' extent overcome, but they were fared with a great'difficulty in connection with the labour supply. In tl'j soft goods trade his firm alone could find employment for from fifty I to one hundred hands more.. In consequence of the shortago of labour, and much against the firm's will, they, had to import goods which thoy could manufacture here to greater advantage, and possibly sell locally with greater profit'to themselves, but they were not able to'do'so, becauso they could not get labour, to manufacture the goods :the public, were crying but for. It was a very serious matter, and a question which the Association should take "P- ■ ■ SHOPS AND OFFICE ASSISTANTS' ' " ■■■".; . UNION. : " (BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) '" Christchurch, April 15; The Shop and Office Assistants' Union is the latest development of the process of organising labour here. 'At a recent' meeting the Committee drafted conditions relating to hoiirs of labour and wages for "the different branches.concerned. , It was stated that competent warehouse clerks, with, a thorough, knowledge of ' typewriting and shorthand were receiving as wages '£4 ' per calendar month, and the head clerk in one establishment was getting a remuneration of £6 per calendar month, while married men (shop assistants), wero'in'one particular shop receiving 20s: and 258. per ,week'and .commission on sales. ■ DENNISTON MINERS' UNION. . Creymouth, April 15. ■The only definite development at Denniston in connection witb the rjcent decision of tho Miners' Union to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Arbitration 'Court, is that the Union has instructed the secretary (Mr. Marcliaijt) to take steps to cancel the Union's registration ' under, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration , Act.:, ■ -