THE IRONWORKERS

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1879, Page 2

THE IRONWORKERS

* * * * A meeting between delegates from the iron* workers, and the master ironfounders and eugineers of Wellington took place last night, at the Central Hotel. Mr. Jambs Ldkb, a workman at Mills foundry, said that they bad been appointed to wait upon the employers to confer with theGL. upon the proposed reduction in the rate of* wages, and, if possible, to arrive at some* definite and amicable settlement of the question at issue He had been called upon to act as spokesman, and he was sure that he only expressed the sentiments of his fellow vorkmen when he said that he regretted that the present misunderstanding should have arisen. The workmen sympathised with the employers in the present depressed state .of trade, but they trusted that it would only be temporary, and that the employers would, taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration, see their way clear to some solution of the difficulty other than a redaction in the rate of wages. However, in the first place, he would ask if a reduction in time instea&pf wages would not be acceded to— also if the proposed reduction was to be temporary or permanent. MrRoBH*TvoN, in reply, atated that all would not be affected by the proposed reduction. It was not the intention of the mailers to touch the wages of men in receipt of 7s a day. The reduction would only affect those whose wages exceeded 10s a day. Mr. Luke said that would not affect tka Inboren. He was glad that their earnings were not to be curtailed. Mr. Datibs, of Robertson's foundry, said that, speaking on behalf of the boiler makers, he wai. sure they earned their money. Boiler makers had to serve a longer apurenticeship. It took them 25 years befori'^they learnt their trade. They were not an illiterate claw of men; they required to know a little geometry and figuring. They were the most willing and profitable men in the trade. Their wages should be 14s a day, to be in proportion to the rate of wages at Home, where they could earn 36* a week. If they had hid such proficient boiler makers here some years ago as tbey had at tue present time, shipbuilding would be carried en here to a great extent, and boats that bad to be ordered elsewhere would have been built here. Boiler makers had to do all sorts of unpleasant and injurious work, even to gome- i- to red- h t boilers. Their clothes got torn and burnt- They were good ?usto«6rs to tailors and clothiers ; they were either seen in rags or in new clothes. But, to return to the question. Notice of the reduc-

ti- n was only given to them by medns of a can stuck up--" To Mechanics." They were noi accustomed to such treatment ss that. Mr. Luke would ask if it was because the) did not earn their money that the reductioi •was contomplated, ho did not beliove any matter would employ a man who could not do his work, he for one would not take wages unless he knew he earned them. The notice given, two days, was very short, they did not want tc go to extremes. Mr. Sbaubr sail that he did not consider the profits proportionate to the wages. It wai not a cast iron rule, he did not desire to reduce the wages of -first class men, but some wages would have to come down or the shops would be shut. Mr Campbell, s workman at the Victoria Foundry, said wh n masters took a contract they knew what wages they were paying, and that the men would stick to them at the same rate Mr. Davis said that at home masters would rather than dismiss a boilermaker employ him as a scavenger in the shop. Mr. Robinson said that ho had attended a meeting of creditors that day and had had to accept 5s in the £. They could not bear all the brunt of the depression, the men must stand their share of the re-action. If the men came there unprepared to meet them with some reasonable proposal the sooner tbe shopff shut the better. Mr. Williams, Lion Foundry, sMd that they had not been asked to assist ; the only notice they received was a card stuck up in the shop. Mr. Robertson said that the employers only wanted to reserve the right to judge for themselves as to what men thoy should retain at the present rate of wages. Mr. Davis said that they seemed to be like trades unionists all of a sudden. Ho regretted it; he did not believe in unions, they were a curse. Every man must study himself. Mr. Skagak said that some y^ars ago they they got 4#d. lb. for what they got 31 for now. They had met to explain several small matters. Mr. Robertson said a gentleman from Nelson asked him what he would do a job for, he asked 3sd. per lb., but the job was given to a Dunedin firm at v lo«or rate— it was only a common job, nothir-g intricate. Mr. Lukb wanted to know if they thought it would be to tho employers interest to modify (he reduction. Mr Robertson said that a good man would be most likely to be kept on at the presont rnto of wages; t'»at some men now getting Us might be equal to some getting 12s. It was to exerciso their own juHgmont that they reserved tbe power of dealing with such casos. Mr. Campbell regretted that t'.a cards had been put up. It was a pity that masters had not exerused their right without causing such misapprehension., Mr. Mills said that there must bo a general reduction alt round; but they would not reduce tho 7s men. Mr. Robertson said he was not one to pockot all the profits. If he got a good job the men got the benefit of it. Mr. Davis sail that he cou'd speak as to the truth of that statement. Mr. Robertson bad shown true colors on farmer occasions. Mr. Robbrtson said that there would be a genoral reduction, but it would not effect men getting les-i than 10'; but laborers would bo reduced if gotting over 7s 6d. It vrtu not right to place them on tho samo scale with skilled artisans Mr. Mills said there wore many in 1m employ who were neither apprentices or mechanics — they were improvers— yet they woro gotiing first-class wages. Mr. Robbbtson said that they were wrong in admitting young men just out of their apprenticeship into their society. It was against tho rule of tbe trade at Home, where they must have worked at various shops, and be able to earn tho average wage before thoy could be admitted to the society. Mr. Mills thought Mr. Luke had nothing to complain of. He was oDly earning 5s twelve months ago and now he was getting 10s. Mr. Lukb — And I earn it Mr. Da vies suggested that they should work half-time instead of submitting to a reduction. They wore even making horse-carts Mr. Mills— Yes; but we do not get paid for them. Mr.SBAQERsaid all tbe other trades had been reduced — men bad been brought from the other colonies at lower rates of wages. Mr. Camps bll— Yes; but the carpenters and others demanded a rife in wages. It was then agreed that tho deputation should tell their comrades to go to work. It being leit to the discretion of the employers how to regulate the reduction. Mr. Davis, on behalf of tbe boiler makers, declined to accede to any reduction. The meeting then closed, the deputation expressing an opinion that but for the cards having been stuck up in the shops no unpleasantness would have occurred.