CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 765, 30 December 1908, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

~m> [BT ELECTBIO TELEGBAPH —COPTBIGHT.] IPBK PEBBS ASSOCIATION.] AN IMPORTANT REPORT. (Received December 30_ 8.8. a.m.) London, December 29. The report of tne Departmental Committee appointed in August, 1907, to consider the working of the fair wages resolution adopted by the House of Commons on February 13, 1891, as embodied in the Government contracts, recommends that tbe present wording of the clause, obliging a contractor to pay current rates of wages for competent workmen ill th_ district where work is oonducted, be retained. The Committee think that piecework earnings should exceed the standard time wages on similar work, and decline to recommend that Government contracts be restricted to houses paying fair wages; but it adds that great care ought to be -taken to place only Government employers or contractors on the list. The Committee suggested the formation of a representative departmental committee to ensure co-operation among contracting departments. The Com-- v mittee disagreed on the question of the substitution of trade union rates for the current rate of wages. In a clause, it suggests that the current rates of wages in unorganised trades might be arrived at either by the Government fixing a rate or a general minimum rate being fixed, or by the establishment of Wages Boards, or the contractor supplying a schedule of wages and hours of labour. FOR LONDON WAIFS. The South Australian Sunbeam Society's gift will entertain 6000 des. titute London children. Under the direction of Sir John Bark, director of the ragged school children, one thousand will be entertained in tbe Agricultural Hall, Westminster, and another thousand at Walworth. WAS HE A SPY P (Reoeived December 30, 10.50 a.m.) Constantinople, December 29. The Armenian Bishop ot Shablar niian Was mysteriously murdered at Constantinople tor suspected espionage against Armenians under the oiid regime.