WORK AND WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 16629, 11 January 1918, Page 8

WORK AND WAGES

SEAMEN’S UNION PROTEST. It is understood (says a Wellington message to ths Auckland ‘ Star ') that Mr W. T. Young, secretary of the Wellington Seamen’s Union, who was last week released from the Terraco Prison after serving a. term for inciting a strike in the coastal shipping industry, will be denied access to Wellington wharves, where hitherto he has been a very well-known figure. Similar action is expected in the case of Mr F. Howell, assistant secretary of the union, who served a similar term on the same charge. It is considered not unlikely that this action on the part of the authorities may cause considerable trouble. A protest against the reported exclusion of Messrs Young and Howell (officers of the Seamen’s Union.) from the Wellington wharves was made to the Hon. Mr Wilford, Minister of Marine, by the president of the Auckland Seamen’s Union. The Minister said ho had no knowledge of the matter, and promised to make inquiries on his return to Wellington. In tho Magistrate's' Court at Timaru yesterday a journeyman was charged with a breach of the Plumbers’ Registration Act in doing sanitary plumbing work, ho being unregistered. The defence urged that the man lias to do the work to qualify for registration. The employer was also charged. The Magistrate adopted the view of the defence: that an apprentice could only obtain knowledge of the trade through practical experience. Counsel for the Health Department asked His Worship to state a case for appeal. The Wellington Gasworks’ dispute, which has been the subject of negotiations before the Conciliation Council, has been settled, with tho exception of some minor details.