WORK AND WADES.

Evening Star, Issue 10401, 24 August 1897, Page 1

WORK AND WADES.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Pamters’JJnion was held at their rooms. Xiades Hall, last night. Mr Healington (president) occupied the chair, and, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a very large attendance of members. Ten new members joined, making a total of fifty. Mr Bunce was elected tyler for the ensuing twelve months, and Messrs Robertson, Flynn, and Chetwin were appointed delegates to the Labor Day Sports Committee. Correspondence was received from the Fabian Society, Political Workers’ Committee, and from the Christchurch Painters’ Union a copy of the award of the Court of Arbitration in re rates of wages overtime, holiday, hours, apprentices, etc! The Executive (with power to add) were appointed a committee to draft a statement on similar lines to the Christchurch award. The secretary reported that the rules of the union had been approved by tho Registrar of Friendly and Wilkie and Co.’s estimate for 200 copies, with 150 pence books, accepted by the Executive. Action approved. The question of affiliating with the Trades and Labor Council was adjourned for three months. Receipts, £3 Gs. At the meeting of the Auckland Board of Conciliation yesterday, Mr Fawcus suggested that the decision of the Board should be accepted as final, without reference to the Court of Arbitration. The suggestion was not agreed to, but each side is to have the right of appeal. The case of the Norotearaahip Company was first taken. ilr Belcher stated that the regulations adopted by the Union Steam Ship Com-, pany and (as to the river and coasting steamers) the rules and pay prevailing in southern ports were a guide in the direction the men wished to go. The concession ottered by certain representatives of shipowners was withdrawn before the case was gone into. From the evidence it appeared that the Northern Steamship Company offered an advance of 10s per month,‘that Captain M'Gregor had done the same, and that Leyland and O’Brien had offered the same, and stated that in doing so they would be paying 30s per month more than some other steamers trading out of the same port. All of these offers had been rejected At tho meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labor Council a resolution was passed urging the Government to give the workers an opportunity of taking up sections in suburban and country districts, and of opening up special settlements and running a workmen a train to relieve the congested towns° f the populatlon in thickly populated Messrs Lawry and Holland, M.H.R.*. have telegraphed to the Minister for Public Works that there are a large number off unemployed m Auckland, and asking that tneir case be taken into consideration. • ; Minister has agreed to do go.