ON STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 7

ON STRIKE.

BAKERS' DISPUTE.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

FOR LABOUR,

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

THE QUESTION OF PICKETING. Non-arrival of tho baker, and a difficulty in procuring tho staff of life, brought home unpleasantly to the minds of housewives yesterday tho fact that Wellington operative bakers wero "on strike." Master bakers were reminded of tho same gloomy 'circumstance whon, at tho hour for commencing baking, they discovered Union "pickets" promenading before their bakehouses, to en-, sure that no worker handled dough. Most of tho masters tackled to and baked as much bread as they could themselves. -Two or three, who are not members of the Mastor Bakers' Union, had given in to tho men's demands, and their business was allowed to proceed. The total supply of bread ,was necessarily far below the demand, and in many of the bakehouses ferments, mixed tho night beforo by the men, had to bo allowed to rot. Tho strike is still proceeding,' but tho men are meeting, with very littlp sympathy, tho Government has decided to take vigorous measures against them individually, and it is hoped that they will not hold out ilong. The events of yesterday may bo ibriefly summarised as fpllojre:—... Tho Minister for Labour, replying to a deputation of master bakers, denounced, tho inconsiderate atftion of the strikers,' and stated that the Department would proceed against tho men individually for the offenco of striking. During the day somo fifty citations wero prepared by the Labour Department, to bo issued at once against individual strikers. The master bakers have received a legal opinion to tho ,effect that it <is- open;to them to bring civil " actions for damages against employees who mixed the yeast and dough, and then left tho materials to rot, instead of giving a week's notice of their intentions to quit employment. ■ The Bakers' Industrial Union of Employ, ers expresses its strong determination to hold out against tho men's demands. At least three meetings of the strikers wero held yesterday. They profess to bo solid' in their determination, not to return to work until their demands are conceded. A numbor of the master bakers,; by their personal exertions, succeeded yesterday: in supplying ■ tho needs of the Hospital and Benevolent Homo. ' ■

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTERMASTER BAKERS ASK PROTECTION. INDIVIDUAL ACTION PROMISED. A deputation consisting of Mr. W. A. Kellow (president of the Wellington Bakers' Industrial Union of Employers), Mr. W. Taylor, and Mr. H. F. Allen (secretary of the Wellington Bakers' Industrial Union of Employers) waited on tko r Hon. J. A., Millar (Minister for Labour) -yesterday.': morning. Mr. H. F.'Allen introduced the deputation and announced its object. MEN'S SUDDEN ACTION. Mr. Kellow said that on Sunday at 8 p.m. tlio operative bakers decided to go out on strike. They had prfevioU6ly"been working for a week under the now award, which came into force from Juno 22. No notico had been given qf the intention .to strike, and onq of the speaker's men.told him 011 Saturday that he did not think'' there would bo a striko. For twenty years past he had been paying his men moro ; than the award rato. The men, howevor, cared nothing for the ruin which they would cause to the employer: they went out, and left 1 all the master bakers' material to rot.At; tho present time tho employers could not get men anywhere to assist them. They had followed tho dictates of the Arbitration Act, and paid according to : the new. award. They. wanted to know the .position.'Jn" which they stood, and tlioy .wanted assistance from tho Government to enable them to carry'oil their business. /

PROTECTION ACAINST PICKETS. f Mr. Allen .said that one master baker had turned out 1500 loaves' that' morning, but' his shop was now picketed,, tho' 1 men were told by the pickets to go out, arid they we're afraid to stay. His own'office was picketed, and ho would communicate with the polico and ask for tho remoyal .of these men who were loitering about his door. . , ' ' Mr. Kellow said that 'the master bakors found'their promises' picketed in ' the samo ■way. They must have polico protection. Mr. Taylor stated that' 'when ho wont to his bakehouse at 4 a.m. ho found men already prowling about thero to see who. went in. Ho threatened to give thom in charge for being illegally on tho premises. • UNGENEROUS EMPLOYEES. Mr. Kellow said that" his'' foreman had gono out, though when, ho was ill he : bad paid him just tho samo as if ho had beon working. He would liav.e worked,, but, tlio men threatened him, and ho went out. Mr., Kellow, stated that his men had all been paid ss. a week more than they wero-entitled to. The rates of tho new award were, the utmost tho employers could afford to 'concedo without raising tho price of bread to tho public, and they wcro unwilling to do that, unless the Government said ; that it was unablo to assist them, and they must raiso .the price. The men found no tools, and wcro paid full rates for all holidays. The master bakors considered tliem tho best paid tradesmen in New Zealand, His own men wero earning, with overtime, tho following rates: —Second hands, £2 18s. and £2 19s'.; foromon, up to £3 12s. They wero receiving more'than a living wage. His business was now completely stopped, and the position meant ruin if work was not resumed in a.few days. . Mr. Allon said that probably tho trouble was .largely brought about through tho action of somo of tho masters in paying moro than tho award rate of wages. If a master showed any special consideration to his men, and paid them more than the award rate, tho Operatives' Union claimed at once that this should bo the minimum. They did not beliovo ,in any classification. They had thrown thomselvos, as it'were, at tho throat of tlio masters, and said that unless they were paid tho increased rato thoy would not work. It seemed to' him a question of whether they would submit to mob law or not. Tho master bakors had treated tho men well, tlio previous award had, extended 12 months beyond its period, showing that there was then no discontent/ and tho demands mado by tho men beforo tho now award Was fixed woro so oxorbitaut that after two conferences tlio master bakors said that they could not submit to them. Tlio men then proposed to tako tho caso to the Conciliation Board. To this tho. employers could not consent. Mr, Andrew Collins, ono of the mem-' bors of tho Board, was Secretary of the Operative Bakors' Union. Mr. Coilins, who:was also a J.P., had. admitted that morning that ho was breaking tho law. The master bakors docided that thoy would stand and fall by tho law, aud tho caso was taken to tho Arbitration Court., Very, full ovidonco was given by both sides, aud the master bakors woro prepared to treat with all respect , the Court s award, what/over its terms might bo. ; Thu award, however, did not. suit tho views of tho operatives, and so they snid that they would not accept tho rates laid down, and that tho master bakers must give thom, not what tho Arbitration Cbnrt'arid the law of tho land Baid, but what , thoy, said" thom-1 poltea, A

SPECIAL HARDSHIPS OF THE STRIKE Some of the master bakers had been working liko "niggers" that morning in ordei that institutions liko the Hospital and the Benevolent Homo should hare bread, and their inmates should not'suffer by the strike. As ho had said, one master baker had turned out 1500 loaves to fulfil a Government contract, but his men had now been ordered out, and, as apparently they could not call their souls tboir own, they wero going out. There would be no bread made now except in a few bakehouses where the masters were not members of the Union. One master baker was liable to a penalty of £50 for non-fulfilment of a contract to supply, a certain quantity of bread, and/in another case there was a penalty of £20. Mr. Kellow said that he had not a man with whpm to start' work that morning. His normal output was 2000 loaves a day, • and he had five employees, who had all gone out. If the master bakers tried .to employ men who wero not members of the Union, thq pickets stationed outside prevented their admission. If the men's demands wero concoded, it would be only a short time beforo thcro was another strike. The carters stated that they were not in sympathy with tho bakers who had struck. ' Mr. Taylor said, that the materials foi ■ bread-making had. to ■ bo thrown away.

MR, MILLAR'S REPLY. THE LAW WOULD BE OBSERVED. Thq Minister said ho had heard with some • surprise that morning that the men had gone out in the maimer in which they had done. . He thought that their action showed but little consideration for tho requirements of tho public, because there were institutions where _it was almost impossiblo to obtain bread iu any other manner than from the bakers. In. private' houses, no doubt, people could got on .without bread for a day or two, or even for a week or two, .if no bread came in-, but in regard to the largo public institutions, it-was quite a different' matter. Tho deputation asked for the Gov- • ernment. to grant them: some protection. Tho only protection that ho Had any power., to grant them was prosecution of the men' who had broken,tho law. (Interjection: TVe ask .for that.) If the master bakers gave him' official information, of the breach, ho would give instructions to the Department' ■ to lay an information against' every man , who had struck, and tho law would be observed by tho Department. But there was no. law that would enable this or any other Government to force men to go to work.' As far as breaches of the law were, con--corned, he would certainly give instructions that. individual 'action 'should ] be taken against tho strikers. SOME IMPORTANT POINTS. Replying to an interjection, tho Minister r said that ho would prosecute not the Union, . but, the'men. If tho men' showed ,so little consideration ;to the public .as to go out under these oircumstances, just as little consideration should be shown to them. .'■. With regard to the picket! nuisance, Mr. Millar said that the employers might apply to . the polico for protection. That was a matter for the Justice Department. They could go to the police if they thought thai their promises were in danger from the presence cf men ai all hours. Mr. Taylor asked : whether the master bakers would be committing a breach of tho award in employing non-Union labour. The Minister said that if the present men Had- absolutely refused to: work, i. his view would, be .that the employers were' at'liberty . to take oil' any workers whom they liked. As the Unionists had refused to. work, there could be no breach of, the: award in employing no'n-Unionist3. Mr. Taylor asked if tho award was any good now. , - • Tho Minister replied that as the law stood j thfe award l was' still binding. ; He also explained that the-cancellation of its registra-tion-by a Union did not terminate ite responsibilities under an award so long as tho period of that .award had npt expired. Mr. Kollow said that tno master ■ bakers realised that they were bound by the award, and wero quite.satisfied with that position. Mr. Taylor asked whether, if non-Union men were taken on now, , tho master, bakers ' ■ would have to dispense with .their services after the present trouble and employ Unionists. ' ■ ' ■ ; The Minister said that if non-Umon men were employed now, the master bakers would have a perfect right to keep those men. •■Mr. Allen thanked the: Minister for his hearing, and the deputation withdrew. CLASSIFICATION OF STRIKES.

SUGGESTION BY THE MINISTER.: . Speaking to a reporter afterwards, Wfp. Millar'said .'that he had come to see that ■it would bo necessary to classify-strikes. There were: some strikes .'that hardly, affected the public, but others, connected with the ■food supply, or.with the lighting, tramway, and other services, worked injury, to the whole community, and should bo dealt with in another , way. .The; action'of the operative bakers meant that' if any employers chose to pay a wage which was abovo the minimum sot' by . the Arbitration'. 1 Court, the workers would immediately demand that the advanced rrage should be, mado the 'minimum. Mr. Millar stated;that amending.''legislation in regard to strikes would be brought down this session.

APPEAL TO LAW. IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE.^ FROM EMPLOYERS TO MINISTER, Mr., H. F. Allen (secretary of .the Wellington Bakers' Industrial Union of Employers) addressed . the, < following letter to the Minister for. Labour yesterday:— Sir,J-I regret • to' inform you that ; the • AVellirigton Operative Bakors! Industrial ' Union of Workers hare 'called all:their " 3 members on strike. A now bakers' award was issued on the 28th day of ' May last by tho Arbitration Court, ;which award l took effect as from the .'22 nd inst., and;is to remain in force un- • til tho 31st day of May, 1910. _ Tho oporativo bakers are evidently dissatisfied " 'with tho award, and sent in claims for , •' an increase in wages and less hours than ■. . thoso awarded by the Court. These claims wero considered by tlio members of tho Wellington Mastor Bakors' Industrial Union of Employers, when it was unanimously' agreed that tho demands could not bo conceded. As a result, ' the mou had been called out on'. strike, after voting papers had been sent out by tho Operative Union, 'the voting ' ' for, a striko being carried. . .The men gavo no notice to their masters of their' ; intention to go out, and -.while tho striko continues citizens of Wellington will in many cases bo compellod to go without any'bread. 'I am sure, sir, that you will tako tho necessary prompt action which such a procoduro necessitates."

: ' PROM EMPLOYERS TO CHIEF • INSPECTOR; The following is a, copy of a letter forwarded by Mr. H. P. Allen, Secretary of tho Wellington Bakers' Industrial Union of Employers, to Mr. J. Lomas, Chief Inspector of tho Labour Departmont, yesterday afternoon:— Sir, —I regret to .havo to inform you that the Wellington Oporativo Bakers' , Industrial Unnion of Workers has called all its mombers out on strike. A new bakers' award was issued by tho Arbitra- . tion Court on tho 2Sth May, and took effect on tho 22nd of this month. That award is ordered t<> remain in forco until tho 31st May, 1910. Tho oporativo bakers aro ovidoritly dissa.tiafied'with tho award, and sent in claims for an increaso in wages, and less hours than those awarded by tho Court. Theso claims were duly : considered by the members of the Wellington Master Bakers' Industrial Union : of Employers, when it was unanimously' ' agreed that tho doninnds could not bucon- : codod. As a reeult tho men have been called out on strike 'after voting papers ; had been- sent out. by tho Operatives' . Union, tho voting for a strike being car- ■ ricd. Tho men gavo no notico to their masters of thoir intentipii to go out. and ■' whilo the strike lasts citizens of WdilingV 'tba' .will -be com--

polled-to go without any bread. This morning master bakers' bakehouses have ' boon picketed, and where any men have been fonnd working they have been intimated,. and in- most cases have obeyed the "call," and have left - work, and joined tho ranks of, the strikers. The , master bakers are'producing as much bread as .they possibly can by, their own "hands, and steps have been .taken to insure that such institutions asthe Hospital,' Benevolent Home, etc., are sup-, f plied. - Tho-members of the Wellington Bakers' Ihtjpstrial" Union of Employers have every confidence that you will, see ; thai: the. necessary' .steps .against;- the: strikers are taken—such immediate stops; as so disgraceful an' action warrants. If 'the award of the Arbitration Court had been more to tho likirig 'of the men, doubtless ' they would have: remained at work, but as they have hot received just what :is to their-liking they defy the' Court- arid strike. Needless to say, sir; tho employers .'would loyally abide by any d-scision of the Court."

GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION. ; ABOUT 60 CITATIONS. This' time the Government have not been •low in deciding to take effective measures 1 against /the sinkers. , Mr. E. Tregear, Secretary for. Labour, informed,, a Dominion representative yesterday 'afternoon" that eita-. tions were'even/then, being' prepared calling' on the. individual and officers of the Union to appear before the Arbitration Court on a charge'of being concerned'in a strike: - It was stated that about 50 citations were'beiug'issued. J - Mr. Tregear explained that proceedings were being taken against tho ,men, and .not against the Union, because the Government wished to avoid -.the delay which happened in connection with the Blackball proceedings. On that occasion, they had to make application to seize' the Union's effects, but the ■Union had no effects, and weeks passed before it was. decided to prqeeed against the men individually. ' This time the Department would have no nonsense; they would proceed a'gainst tho individuals direct. " . Tho citations will 'be issued' without any May.' - ■ / ■ . , ■ THE MEN'S VIEWPOINT.; '■ MR. A. COLLINS INTERVIEWED. • BRUTE FORCE OF ARBITRATION.. -Flushed with the excitement of battle and' aDsorbed"in preparations for the continuance :of,'the/fray, Mr,. Andrew Collins, secretary of the Co-operative Bakers' Union, yet.found time to .express; some rather curious ; views. on the, situation to a Dominion representative yesterday . afternoon.. All was going well, very, well, according to 'Mr. Collins,, and pickets had been stationed that morning before jail the - bakehouses to seel that none, worked, at, less-.than: the wages asked • for by the strikers.' The. pickets had reported to a meeting , held ' earlier in . the' dayj. and their reports had : been very , satisfactory. , No. disturbance had been caused, or would be. Moral suasion was the only argument employed to prevent' men working at "improper" rates, and. so far the argument hadt been found ' sufficient. "We stand on our merits," said 'Mr. Collins. - . . The: interviewer asked- if any special arrangements had been made-,by : the men to supply the hospital and- other institutions. "How can-we make such.' arrangements ?"- JUr. Collins inquired. The employers-,own all - the ovens, and ■ are trying to block us. .Two of .theiri' have ; agreed .to our., demands, tnd we are giving- them all the labour they require. : 7We regret very much that the public should be" put, to any inconvenience. ,We quite understand that they won't fully realise that tho'bakers have, struck till theygo home to. tea to-night; ' We have exhaustfed - every, means to come to a settlement ivith the employers. They say that they , will abide by the Arbitration Act. We applied «to-ino .court.':for an 1 award; we: went to' the employers themse)ves for proper terms. - They were satisfied'with no force but the' brute force of Arbitration, and to our surprise, when.tho award came out,■ we s-ere penalised to .work" 51, hours for minimum wages of £2 Bs., £2 135., and £3 3s. AVe are told' by the newspapers that we will lose the. sympathy of ..the general public by: striking.' I- say that the general public has never protested in any shape or: form in regard, to .the bakers':-:,long',-hours.-and small ■ wages and "other conditions- of 1 work. The men. are solid 'in -their demands,' and will not. go back.'" I :.\ ■ ■ The : interviewer: mentioned that tho.Minister for. Labour had declared his intention that day to take proceedings against: the . individual, strikers,-.. •• •

We look to it asVa Union I'strike," re- 1 •• plied Mr.' Collins-' " A ballot .was .taken by-, | the Union, and the majority ruled. Sinco. it is a ..Union istrike,, we reckon that -the ~ Union should be penalised to the full extent .; of the £100, which we are prepared to pay. If the, Government proceed,against the men ■ individually, r the men .have not ..got the money. Theyymust gaol them. for. it:.-.■.... ... About forty' of the strikers had crowded in to the room during this conversation in order to hold a meeting. Mr. Collins's eye' Bought confidently..those who were'standing nearest for, approval of his remarks,''which 1 vsras given with word and gesturo. " STATEMENTS BY THE MEN. ;! "NOT A LIVING WAGE." Several of the men proceeded, with enthusiasm, to'give their views of the position. It was plain that they were quite convinced of the reality of their grievances, and they appeared to bo well satisfied with the course, taken in striking. ' The minimum wage of £2 'Bs." for table hands,' the men' agreed, was not enough for any. married man with a family: in "Wellington. The-pressman was; iuvited,to point out another trade in which men reca:ved .'so little. Even labourers, it was declared, re- ' ceiveu 9s. a day. The half-hour interval for breakfast, which Mr. Allen said reduced tho men's actual working hours from 51 to. 48 hours a week, was only occasionally, to bohad. Often, tho men could only tako ten minutes, and frequently;thoy. had to snatch a bite while they wero making the bread. Three pounds a week for a, minimum wage •was only, fair. ' It cost a man £1 a week for a respectable, houso,. and 4s. more was absorbed for light and firing. It had been said that the men were paid for holidays, -bnt that was covered'by tho Sunday "sponge. "During the last year I have put in two hours' work every alternate Sunday to pav for my holidays," said one man, "although those • holidays* aro allowed by the Arbitration Court. On a Saturday, especially, you may- work from 2 a.m. till 9 a.m., and not find time to get a bite to eat. In order to start work at 2 a.m., you must turn out of bed at' 1.15 or, 1:30, leavfng hardly time for a wash, and some mon, who can't get a houso at a decent rental anywhere near their work,'have got to turn out at 12.30 in order to get down to tho bakehouso in time. They don't get much to eat at. that hour." This striker, whose views were generally endorsed by those about him, said that some of the small bakers were already paying the rates which tho mon demanded. If small tradesmen,' who employed only ono assistant, could pay him £3 a week, he thought that others in a large way of business could pay their hands at tho samo rate. A companion of the speaker had been earning, with overtime, up to £3 15s. a week. His employer was willing still to pay him that amount, hut as he could not see his way to Bifn the Union's demands, the man had gono out with the rest on principle. This employer, whose output was 400 loaves a day, could pay £3 15s, a week, or 12s. 6d. a day. Yet another man, with 'an output of 2500 loaves a day, paid three employees £2 10s. a, week, and a fourth £3 55., an avorago expense in wages of 365. a day. On the same basis ' as tho small baker this lan'o baker would be paying 78s. a day. i'et it was tho large .dealer who was making the most outcry. Mr. Kcllow had paid his men more than the award rates, and on that account the speaker specially, denounced his action in supporting now the employers, who refused to follow his example. Mr. Kellow's attitude in tho matter, it seemed to bo implied, gavo an air of righteousness to the employers' cuuso, which tho men could not eoe was justified

WHY THE MEN WAITED. WEEDING OUT'WEAK BROTHERS. The pressman askedfwhy tho Operatives' Union had not earlier their dissatisfaction with the conditions under which they wero working. It was stated in reply that the Union did not'hurry itself to secure a now award, because it was engaged in steadily " weeding out" tho men who it was thought would prove too weak to stand in with the rest if it. should become necessary to resort, :to strong measures. They had gradually got.rid of these men, and most of them were Viti'ow 'filling positions in the Country. ' Tho result of the weeding out process ' was ; that 'the' Union now consisted of staunch men,.- who would .stand firmly together till; they secured their demands. The Union was ."solid in its present attitude, and not one of its members would give -in. THE POSITION LAST NICHT. ' ,-DEPQTS'TQ.BE ESTABLISHED. 'A protracted meeting of the strikers was held last night in the rooms of the Trades and Labour Council. The proceedings were at times fairly noisy, and it is understood that a small section of the men were in favour of more demonstrative methods than the prudence of the majority would permit. , A Dominion representative had a short talk ..with Mr. Collins while the meoting was iii.-pi'ogress. . .The Secretary of the Operatives'- Union stated that the men were more determined. to. hold out than they v had been on the. preceding evening. A number of<them who were previously willing to work had decided to throw in their lot with the strikers.,. 1t..-was understood that the Employers' Union had brought two men from the country. Ono of them was a member of the Union, 1 and the other was not. _ They had both attended the. strikers' meeting in the afternoon; the non-unionist had joined the -,'Union, and' they had both decided to go out with the strikers. •

.Mr. Collins stated that three master bakers had subscribed to the Union's demands, , and double" "shifts wero being worked at their shops. A."fourth, master baker, it.was said, : had practically- agreed to the demands. If the strike'lasts, it is proposed to establish depots, at which, the bread made at these bakehouses will be sold. iNone of the bakers who,are carrying . on, possesses more than ono oven, ,whereas some of those who have not agreed to the men's demands possess.' as'many as five. It is considered that if. one of tho bakers with five ovens would given in to the men's views, their position would be much stronger, as by working three shifts a day .they would, bo able to turn out, a' large amount of bread. No attempt is being; made to prevent master bakers ..'doing their own baking.

I MEETING OF EMPLOYERS. THE MASTERS DETERMINED. . .- NO WAVERING. 'A, very largely-attended meeting of the Master. Bakers' Union" was held last night at tho offices of the secretary' (Mr. H. F. Allen).' The- tone of tho meeting was' distinctly firm, and the masters have no intention whatever of giving way. > The secretary reported, the result of the interview with the Minister for Labour, and he read a,copy;of a letter sent to the Minister, formally notifying him 6f the fact that the bakers were out "on strike. 1 A similar letter was also sent to the Chief Inspector of the 'Labour' Department: ' Satisfaction 1 was expressed, by members upon hearing t-h'at the Minister intended giving immediate instructions to the Labour Department to tako proceedings against the men.

It 'was reported by some members that 1 their men had remained working, and iri- 1 tended to do so. Some of tho master bakers have been approached by operatives to urgo them to take workers on. This was reported to the meeting, and it was resolved to reply in the : morning (Tuesday). ■' It was decided" that the secretary should advertise for twenty-eight operatives at the award rate of pay. If this advertisement does not result in tho positions being'filled, the secretary states that lie has other means, at-his 'disposal of securing men. A'list of the master bakers, with' the number of hands they are prepared'-to engage, has been drawn up. • ; • It was . agreed that, there was only one I thing to be doiie—to'- pay only the award rates.' One or two .employees were taken on yesterday, and they arclstated to be giving every satisfaction.; ' > A LEGAL OPINION. The following legal: opinion of Mr. G. F. Martin/ solicitor, ; was read at tho meeting:— "In my. opinion, each individual master '■ baker has .an actionem the Magistrate's Court, at : common law, against each einploj'ee'who has'left off his work without giving the notice agreed upon at tho • timo of the engagement for determining . ■■ the contract of hiring. In such an ac- . tiori/'the 'master 'can recover whatever damages ho'can' prove to have suffered' by reason of this breach of'contract. It is possible for.a master to include, in one summons all liis' employees who have ■ broken their separate contracts—Magistrate's Court Act;'.'lß93, s. 56.. As to : the loss of material. through the men leaving after tho- ferment was set, and before it was finished, this would be an •item of the damage-caused to tho mas- " t'er by the breach of contract. As to /the right of a.master:to sue an employee for leaving off v work, in ' Mayne on damages,' a"'staridard work, seventh edition, pi' 248; the law»is thus laid down: , ' There can bo no doubtthat the act of a servant who leave's service without' • giving proper notice is actionablo as 'a breach of contract. " And if the service ' is terminated beforo the next (month's) ■wages are due, no claim could.be made in respect of the broken period.' See . also Smith's 'Master and Servant,' sixth edition, page 87'.' The case of Bowes • partners'v. Press (1894) IQ. B. 202 is . much in : point.' -There, certain coal miners' refused t'o : go • down in the ''cage' .at the same timo as • -Bon-Unionists. : Tho English Court of Appeal- hold (1) that the miners had broken" their contract; and (2) that. the employers were entitled to substantial and not merely nominal damages. The matter is quite outside the Arbitra- , tion Act. ' The award does not fix the . notice required to determine the service, nor does the fixing of this notice appear to'come'within the .definition of ; 'industrial makers' in Section 2 of the 1905 Act. - ■ The contract as to the length 'V of the service is-ovidently left to bo arranged by the parties outsido of the Act and the award. Of course, the Masters' Association cannot, sue as 1 "■! above. For the above reasons, I am of opinion that the individual masters i have good common law actions against i ; their employees for leaving their employ • without notice." • 1 It was pointed out that the bakers would ; lose heavily through loss of trade, etc:, consequent upon the strike. Tho matter! was ' discussed, but it was decided not to take > action just now. ...

VIEWS OF MR. ARNOLD, M.P. MEN'S TACTICS CONDEMNED. , THE QUESTION OF A LIVING WAGE. ' Mr. J..F. Arnold,'M.P., when interviewed on tho Wellington' baker's' strike, said ho did not caro to speak too fully, as tho striko had already begun, and also becauso labour legislation would come prominently before tho Houso within tho next, fow weeks. This and other matters would then have to bo fully debated. In .his opinion, however, tho striko was most lamentable, arid he thought thati tho Operative Bakers' Union had not oxhaucted every possiblo means to bring about a settlement. They ccrtainly ought to havo' dono so before taking such an extreme step and causing so much inconvenience to the general public. The only hope of the Labour party gaining' tho ends it had in view was to act and speak at all times sr. as to earn public sympathy. It seemed to him that in this strike the lovorso' wrb likely to result.

'Asked whether ho would express any opinion as to the morifcs of tho men's demands, Mr. Arnold said that from a Labour standpoint every man had a right to demand that employment should he provided for him at a living wage. 110 was not prepared to say whether the award provided such a wago or not, but lib thought that if tho case, when before the Arbitration Court, was properly conducted, and full advantage taken of tho power to call export evidence, tho Court was woll'able to decide, not only what a living wago was, • but what it was possbile for the employor to pay. Finally, Mr. Arnold said ho hoped tlyit within tho next few days hotter counsels, .would prevail on both sides, and that tho employers would meet t-lio demands of the men to the fullest extent possible consistent with tho conditions'of trade.

EXCITEMENT IN THE KITCHEN. THE PEOPLE AND THE STRIKE. SHORT RATIONS. A strike such as this affects everyone and pandemonium is the only word that gives an adequate notion-of the position of affairs in some of the large boardinghouses. Mistresses read their morning paper with astonishment and they quickly found that the statements were but too true. The thing had never happened before, and they did not know what to do. Some bad a little bread, but it did not go far, and it was amusing to seo short rations on each bread board. "Any bread?" asked the hungry lodger. "There is no bread!" came the response. A little was forthcoming in the afternoon, but how do they stand to-morrow and the next day? The master bakers' telephones were kept very busy yosterday through their customers ringing up and all demanding the staff of life. In some cases, tho people were told that it would be late before any bread was available, and in several cases they had to express regret that they could not supply their customers. • All through, tho attitude of the public has been most fair and reasonable. "Wo understand your position," they say. "We will manage somehow. Send your cart along as soon, as .you can." WORST PAID TRADES. AN INTERESTING COMPARISON. In view of a statement made that employees of no other trade were so badly paid as .bakers, a Dominion representative made inquiries at the Labour Department yesterday as to-tho minimum wages in the worst paid trades. The information gained was as follows, Saddlers receive Is. an hour for a week of 48 hours. Bootmakers are awarded Is. an hour for 47 hours' work a week. Builders' labourers receive Is. lid. an hour during a week of 45 hours. General labourers are paid from Bs. to - 10s. a day. Bottle washers in the aerated water' factories are paid £2 2s. a week, and boys- may be employed for most of the work, except machino bottling, at from 10s. to 355. a week. Drivers receive from £2 7s. to £2 lis. . per week of 47J ,hoVs. 1 Wharf labourers are paid from Is. 3d. to Is. 6cL an hour per week of 48 hours, but their employment may bo .very.', , casual. . Obviously it' is not fair to compare tlieso fixed standards with the minimum wage of bakers—£2 , Bs.. per week of 51 hours. For purposes of comparison tho bakers' wages under tho Award must be taken as ranging from £2 Bs.- to £3 3s. Their position is then seen to bo- better than that of several other classes.

, MIB-STATEMENTS. The statement has been made that a master baker was allowing the operatives to use his ovens and do business on their own account, but, a reporter was positively illformed that the statement is quite incorrect. It has also been said that" some of the masters have sighed the agreement insisted upon by. the operatives. This, likewise, is incorrect. No member of tlie Master Bakers' Union has signed the document.

FICHTINC THE BATTLE. Speaking to a Dominion reporter, Mr... Allen said: "The masters are absolutely determined to maintain their attitude. Thoy would sooner stop baking than givo' way, "because they- realise that, they are fighting tho battle, not only of tho'master bakers, but tho battlo of the employers throughout tho country. A great deal depends upon tho ■ support given, by the public, and that given so far is very pleasing." .WITH THE PICKETS. All . the elements of a thorough-going striko are contained in the trouble caused by the action 'of the Unionist bakers in ceasing, work without warning on Sunday. This even extends to picketing bakehouses whero work is or may be going on. In tho early hours of yesterday morning one of tho pickets guarding a central city bakehouse whero two men—non-Unionists—were hard at work, called on one of tho men (a second hand) to leave off work, and. the man deeming prudence tho better part of valour shook the flour of the place off his shoes and went out into the darkness. The foreman, who was also at work; was summoned to cease, and get homo to' bed, and ho was about to obey the call when-the proprietor, seeing the ruin of a wholo batch staring him in tho face, jumped for the door, which he bolted, saying: "I'm d dif you go until you finish your work!" The work was duly finished. In tho cold, raw blackness that preceded dawn yesterday morning shouts were heard outside a city bakery. "Knock off work in there; throw in yer dough!" The noisewolco tho master's wife, who advised her spouse that there was a row outside. The master raised the window and asked who it was that was disturbing the peace. An answer was given. "Oh," said the master, "it's you! Well, I'm surprised to see you of all men here. , I thought you were a friend of mine." _ "So I am,',', said the shivering picket, "I told them I didn't want to do it, but they said it was the Union's orders and I had to. I don't like doing it, you can bet on that!"

"Noiv, g<p homo like a good fellow, and get into bed—it's much warmer than standing out there disturbing people." . Whether the lone picket did as he was bid only himself- and the black night know, but there was no more shouting, and there were steaming sweet-smelling batches •of bread for the drivers at. daylight. i

THE WAGES QUESTION. One master baker was met in argument yesterday by the contention that the men might be-justified in striking on-'the living wage principle. Take, for instance, third or table hands, who under the old .award wero getting £2 osi, and undor the new £2 Bs. per week. A single man would bo able to live comfortably enough on such a wage, but could it be said to be a living wage for a married man with, say, two children as rents and the cost, of living went in Wellington at the present This aspcct of tlio case was put to a ,master baker, and he said that evory. baker, in the proper sense of the word, was worth £3 a week, but there wore a number of men who claimed to be bakers who had no right to the namo. Tho trado in Wellington had its full complement of incompetents, and somo of the table hands gotting £2 Bs. a week were not worth 30s.

ATTITUDE OF THE BAKERS' DRIVERS. A representative meeting of bakers' drivors was hold last night to consider what attitudo they should take up. Mr. J. Sutherland, President of the Drivers' Union, occupied tho chair. It is understood that those present expressed strong sympathy for tho operative bajsors in their endeavours to secure an eight-hour day and an increaso in wages. Tho bakers' drivers, it should bo mentioned, aro governed by tho Drivers' Award, but •also work under a mutual agreement with tho master bakers. Eventually, after two hours' discussion, it was agreed that the question aa to' what attitude they will asjmxaa should bo loft to ft SReoial meeting of

tho Drivers' Union, which will be held this ovening. The bakers' drivers will,, therefore, continuo their work to-day as usual. OVER THE COUNTER. Yesterday was a splendid trade day for those bakers who were able to bake a full supply for their customers, and inoro for tho casual or over-the-counter trade. One baker, who happened to have a couple of nonunionists working for him, and wlio was in the habit of selling an averago of about twenty loaves a day across the counter, managed to supply the whole of Jiis customers, and sold between 300 and 350 loaves over tho counter. A BIG EFFORT. Ono old and respected baker of bread with the weight of three score years and (nearly) ton bearing heavily on his shoulders made a herculean effort yesterday to keep faith with his customers. With tho members of his family he work beforo midnight' on Sunday, and did not cease work until late yesterday afternoon, by which time lie had baked 2000 loaves of bread—very good bread, too. With a little further as- 1 sistanco, the old man would be prepared to defy Unionism from this out. THE POSITION TO-DAY. It was difficult to ascertain how many loaves were baked yesterday, but it is estimated that the total would bo about 7000. The number will probably be less to-day. About half of the small master bakers aro baking, and one or two of the big men are keeping going. All the available labour is being pressed into service, sons - being the usual expedient. In one case, however, a daughter lias set to work, and is doing her share vigorously.