WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9120, 4 June 1890, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

[jsr ELECTRIC TELEntIAPS,—COPTJtIaHT,] [Special to Press Association.] [Receive! June 3, at 8 p.m. I PARIS, Juse 2. The French Government propose to legalise ten hours a day as the limit of labour. MARINE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION. IBE ELECTRIC TKI.KuItAL’ U.—CoPl iilGH'/.l [Special to Pjbkss Association.] [Received June 3 at 1.15 p.m.3 SYDNEY, Juhe 3. At a meeting of the Marine Officers’ Association it was decided, notwithstanding the action taken by the New Zealand Association, to adhere to their pledge to hold a Conference with the steam owners. CASUAL LABOUR AT LYTTELTON. A deputation from the Lyttelton Branch of the Federated Wharf Labourers’ Union met the Executive of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, on June. 2, to discuss the question of casual labour at Lyttelton. The President of tho Wharf Labourers’ Union explained that the question of dealing with casual labour employed oa wharves aud in sheds at seaport towns, had received the careful consideration of his Society, aud a decision had been arrived at, at the recent Conference of the Maritime Council, to the effect that all casual wharf labour at seaports be controlled by the Wharf Labourers’ Union. A oeputation from the Maritime Council had waited upon the Railway Commissioners who had agreed that preference shall be given to casual men who are members of the Union. They held the casual labour at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, and they now desired to have the matter settled at Lyttelton, Timaru, and Oamaru. The wharves at Lyttelton were the property of the Harbour Board, but were worked by the railway, and they would allow their men to work with the permanent men on the railway. They were prepared to make this concession: That if a constant man was not a member of the Railway Society they would withdraw their men and not work with him. The initiation lee of the Wharf Labourers* Union was £2 4i 6d, and it would probably be increased to £b in a short time. It would be an injustice to them to make the casual labourers at Lytteiion members of the Railway Society at their lower fee. They did not wish to interfere with the constant men working on the wharves in Lyttelton, nor did they wish to cause any friction between the two Unions. The fact was, the casual men employed by the Railway Departmentat seaports,_ wore engaged a portion of time doing legitimate railway work, and when that work was slack they were sent to work on the wharves at legitimate wharf labourers’ work at a reduced wage to that ruled by the Union. It was therefore easily to be seen how this railway casual labour affected their Union men. They had obtained for the casual labour pay at the rate of Is 3d per hour. A lengthy discussion took place when the point arose that the Railway Union had no power to give up the casual labourers who had joined the Society, inasmuch as the Union was bound to admit all men in receipt of Railway pay, and the rules could not be until next Conference. At the same time it was clearly apparent that railway casual labour, when sent to do work upon the wharves, was encroaching upon the domains of the Wharf Labourers’ Union. The names of all casual labourers were submitted to the Executive, and upon going carefully over the list with the deputation from Lyttelton it was found that the whole of the casuals, with the exception of four men, were already members both of the Wharf Labourers’ Union and the Railway Union. The peculiar .nature..of, the situation was well debated upon by both sides, and it was finally resolved—" That the Executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand strongly urge all casual labour at seaport towns to join the Federated Wharf Labourers’ Union, as that body can afford better protection at present than the Railway Union.” This was accepted by the deputation, who expressed their satisfaction at the amicable settlement of the difficulty, and assured the Executive of the support of the Wharf Labourers* Union in any matter in which they needed assistance.

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. A meeting of the Executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was held last evening. A large amount of routine business was transacted, and the interview with the Commissioners on June 16 was considered. It was resolved—- « That the deputation adhere strictly to the text of the Society’s communication of March 29, dealing with the questions of bey labour, hours of labour and piecework,” The following were elected to compose the deputation: Mr Hoban (President), Mr Owen (Vice-President), Mr Edwards (General Secretary), and Messrs Winter, Elvines and Haden. A draft copy of the proposed by-laws of the Wellington branch was referred to a Subcommittee to report upon. [Feb Pbebb Association.} DUNEDIN, June 3. The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners have passed a resolution to support early closing, and to patronise only those places where the principle was adopted. There is some probability of the Cabmen’s Union purchasing the cabmen’s shelter, and asking permission to place it on one of the stands. At the monthly meeting of the Tailoresses’ Union, it was reported that the membership now totalled 1048. During the year the Union had contributed about jglOO as assistance to other Unions where difficulty had occurred. It was resolved to loyally support the early closing movement. Mr Pinkerton was re-elected President. At a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council, a letter was received from the Maritime Council stating that at the recent conference it was deemed advisable to have one day set apart as a labour demonstration day, and suggesting Oct. 28, the day on which the Maritime Council was formed. The matter was allowed to stand over till the delegates had consulted the Unions. It was decided to forward a vote of thanks to Mr Stratford, 8.M., for his outspoken remarks from the Bench on the recent Shag Point eviction cases.