CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 64, 12 September 1901, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

* THE CLAIMS OF FARRIERS,. r Yesterday's proceedings relative, to tha farriers' demands are reported onpag* 7. When the Board resumed this morning, The masters called R. Ralph, master horseshocr, who had been in the trade for 24 years, and was not in favour of labourers. Cross-examined, he said that he thought, considering the prices masters obtained, 9s 6d was a fair wage for « * journeyman. j Robert Blackwood, general blacksmith J now out of employment, considered 48 hours a fair week's work. Until there; were apprentices to take their place, improvers should be allowed. Thought 12s was a fair day's wage for * journeyman, but was not in favour of giving preference to unionists. Starting at 10s a week, an apprentice should receive a 5s annual rise. After his last year ha should receive the full wage.. In the main the witness was in favour of tho union's demands. T. Leyden, master blacksmith, was in favour of improvers. By permitting this

i' us* of labour a chance avus given to luiapprenticcd men to learn tho trudo thoiouyhly. It would bo a hurd thing to lix a fair minimum wage. U was unfair to as.k ono boy to he striker for two journeymen. ITivo shillings n week avus ample payment for un apprentice to start on. It was unreasonable to uak payment for holidays. To Mr. Rounthwaite— To ask £3 12s per week for a. boy just out B of his time was calculated to injure the boy's chances ot promotion. The Board rose for luuchcon at 12.30 o'clock. OTHER LABOUR DISPUTES. WAIHI MINING CASE. fill TKLKGIIAPO.— I'UKSfI ASSOOIATION.I WAIHI, 11th September. Tho Arbitration Court coucluded tho hearing of tho union's evidence in the mining dispxite this afternoon. Mr. H. P. Bairy, superintendent of the WaUii Company, in his evidence, .■.tnted that the ronson Tor dismissing men was that the directors in "England had instructed him to curtail expenses and shorten hands. ' He had dismissed certain men as they hnd aroused unrest and dissatisfaction. No men had been dismissed uince the matter had been brought under the notice of tho Conciliation Board. Ho did not think the ballot taken of the miners represented tho whole wish of the union. Tho Court has adjourned to the Thames on Friday, and Coromandel on Monday. AUCKLAND PLUMBERS. AUCKLAND, 11th September. The Conciliation Board has given its award in the plumbers' dispute, providing for a 47 hours week, pay to be ls 2d an liour for competent men ; every firm, to have one apprentice and one extra to every two journeymen ; preference to unionists on the usual conditions. Mr. Tudehope said ho did not think the recommendations would bo accepted by the masters' association.