WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 10243, 19 February 1897, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

[Per Press Association.]

PERTH, February 19. The builders' utrike has been declared off.

THE SHIPPING DISPUTE,

WELLINGTON, February 19,

The recognition of Labor 1W as a holiday for seamen is the one point being considered by the Conciliation Board. The chairman suggested that employers and the union should approach the Government and ask them to proclaim one day for the whole of the colony. It was then agreed that the Board should be the constituted body to approach both parties and get the matter settled. Several owners said their boats were not paying now, and they could not possibly increase the rate of wages. The competition of larger companies like the Union Company waa squeezing small owners out.

As having a direct beariug on the muchdiscussed question of co-operative labor, the following item from the 'New Zealand Herald' will be of interest: —"The Auxiliary Asylum, destroyed by fire, has been rebuilt in brick, and again reoccupied. The work was done on the co-operative principle, and a good job has been made of it, the work being done to the entire satisfaction of the resident engineer (Mr Vickerman). The party are now engaged on the erection of a new male wing to the main building- It it) expected that the briok wofk will be finished in a month. The men have worked well together, and appear to be a good clan of workmen. The resident engineer has had no difficulty with the cooperative workmen, though he has insisted on safeguarding the public interests, so that good work may be executed." The usual meeting of the Trades and Labor Council was held last evening ; Mr S. J. Lyon, the president, being in the obair. The secretary was requested to supply to Mr iH. G. EH the information required in connection with the ' Tradeß Union Directory.' Messrs Lyon, Davie, Slater, and R. 0. Wilson were appointed a Reception Committee in connection with the Trades Council Conference, to be held in Dunedin in Eister week. It was resolved to place the following notioes on the order paper for the conference :—" That the Government be requested to pass a measure to extend the municipal franchise as regards the election of councillors and mayors to adult householders, and to abolish plural voting." "That the Government be requested to amend the Factory Act in the direction of making the hours of labor the same as in the Bradshaw Act of 1882." It was announced that the first meeting of the Boilermakers' Union as an organised union would be held on Thursday next. The following resolution was carried with acclamation:—" That a special vote of thanks to The secretary, Mr R. Slater, be recorded op the minutes for the energy he baa displayed in the successful organisation of the Furniture Trade and other unions, a% this Council consider it is mainly due to his efforts that the furniture trade has been placed in its present position."