WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 14998, 4 October 1912, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

MATCH INDUSTRY CLOSES DOWN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, MELBOURNE, October 5. Messrs Bryant and May's match factory has closed, and 400 employees have been thrown idle. The reason stated is that it is impossible to compete with the imported article, which is produced under low European wages. The company have accumulated a large stock, which they cannot unload. Unless extra protection is granted the industry will be strangled. THE MINERS’ CONFERENCE. LONDON, October 3. The Miners’ Conference at Swansea rejected a motion requesting the Labor party to introduce a Bill to establish uniform wages. The proposal was regarded as impracticable. OAMARU, October 4. The dispute between the wharf laborers and the Union Company’s foreman this morning in respect to putting on men to work the Koromiko led to a number refusing to work. The men allege that the foreman showed favoritism to some who attended the Kurow races yesterday (in spite of the fact that work had to he* done at the wharves) by puttting them on the forward hatch, his method of calling being different to that usually employed. Efforts were made to conciliate the men throughout the morning, but without result, and the forward hatch only of the Koromiko is being worked. The workers and non-workers belong to the recentlyformed Waterside Workers’ Union. The position will he considered at a meeting of the union to-night. The boat has 950 tons of coal to discharge.—Oamaru wire. Our Timaru correspondent says that there was the making of trouble at that port this week over the demand of the lumpers for increased wages. They succeeded in obtaining overtime at the' rate of 2s 6d per hour, which was increased to 3s 6d if the men were employed after 10 p.m.