INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 121, 7 May 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

MIXERS’ MINIMUM WAIVED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.] London. May 6. The Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation has decided not to adhere to their demands of a minimum of 7 - per day. EIGHT HOURS DAY. Brisbane, May 6. The Eight Hours Day procession was a record display. The Tramway Union carried a banner inscribed with the legalised badge and the figure of Justice with the bandage removed from its eyes.

NO MUSIC

(Received 7, 10.40 a.m.) Brisbane, May 7,

A feature of the eight-hour demonstration was the absence of bands, due to many bandsmen having been called as special constables during the strike.

GREEN ISLAND MINERS

Dunedin, May 6.

The position with regard to the dispute at Christie’s mine, Green Island, has not improved. The men have arranged to get their tools from the mine to-morrow morning. The matters in dispute have been referred by them to the Federation of Labour.

Mr. Webb (president of the federation) is expected to arrive by- the first express from the north tomorrow.

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ DISPUTE.

\t kl ’ )

When the waterside workers’ dispute was mentioned in the Aroitration Court toai\ i ( i e for the employers, asked that an award be m It i i cf ic f d ings of the c 1 a ion C m 1 Mr. Smii h p ed loi 1 Li > Steam Ship Co ip id v ’ other employers, wno objected to nn award.

Mr. Way raid the union objected to an awaid b< ing tin<. <d u r <. n >t it it had camelled do itg'st n.icti i.n dei the Act Thcie eas*ou di,piu about the matter, but the tacts were that the date the representatives ot the l n.astois and men v o>e (tiled o gethei b, the Conm> , >- >'omi oi itic Conciliation Council n> a miner dispute was two elavs after tne imm m which objection could be taken tc the crncclljLioi < f i 1 < union s mjstration under the Act, His Honour ask’d why the employers wanted an award when the union objected. Mas desirable under the circumstances ? Mr. Grosvenor : We want some security.

His Honour : Against what 1 Mr. Grosvenor: Against anv attempt of the union to strike or d.(-re-gard the so-called agreement that has been entered into.

Mr. Way: With the big bulk < f Pic qmployers th«re is already an agrc‘’lificnt, and Mr. Grosvenor is dealing

with only a small section

His Honour suggested that the employers should consider whether the application for an award should not be withdrawn. They would simply bind themselves if an award were made, and in the event- of a strike they would have to comply with the conditions, while perhaps other employers wore paying less wages. Mr. Grosvenor asked for time tc consult the employers he represented. The court intimated that the case would be called on again later. There is a case on the list in which the Waterside Workers’ Union is alleged to have committed a bicach of the Act when the recent strike Look place, and it was agreed that rhis should be heard on Monday next. NO GETTING PAST IT. THE CONSUMER PAYS. (Received 7, 11.0 a.m.) Melbourne, May 7. Owing to the Wages Board raising the wages of waitresses to 27<6, restaurant keepers have decided to charge them 10/- weekly for then meals. The waitresses strongly resist, and have struck at one restaurant. Other waitresses are fasting in preference to paying. i Restauranters have increased toe price of all meals by threepence to meet the extra wages. IMPORTANT MINING AGREEMENT. TO THE BENEFIT OF THE MEN. Dunedin, May 7. An important agreement has been arrived at between the M estport Jcal Company and the men employed in their mines. This is the^ result of negotiations as far back as November. The unions on the- M est Coast forwarded to the company a set of demands differing materially from ;hc conditons then existing, but as the holidays were close at hand, the company requested that the matter should be held over until after New Tear. This was agreed to and a conference was he’d m February between the representative:; of the union and the company, and the 'questions in dispute have been under discussion ever since. The demands of the unions marked such a radical alteration in working that considerable difficulty was experienced in | framing an agreement acceptable tc both sides, but after a number of | conference conducted with the best • feeling, an understanding was arriv- I ?d at and an agreement with a cur- I

rency of 12 months was drawn ur and signed by both parties and sc ended a difficulty that gave a good deal cf concern to all interested The men. it is understood, benefit considerably b.v the now agreement. It may he mentioned incidentally that so great is the demand for coal just now that the company find it impossible to got a sufficient number :f competent miners to meet -choir requirements.

DUNEDIN BOOT OPERATIVES

DEMAND A BIG INCREASE

Dunedin. Mav 7

The demands cf the operative boot makers represent, it is understood, an increase of wages to the extent of about 18 per cent on the cost of labour. Negotiations so far have failed to bring about an agreement between the employers and the employed, and the parties will therefore meet in the Conciliation Council at Auckland on May 13.