WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9430, 3 June 1891, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

[FSB PbBSS ASSOCIATION. J ~ AUCKLAND. June 2.

In \ the case against Collins, _ Mine Manager at Huntley, ,o£ neglecting to Woperly timber the drive which collapsed «oa Ralph’s property, judgment was given ; and'he was fined>22o and coats. The coats amount to £sl, and the other expenses will, it is said, ba between X&Oand .£SOO. ' WELLINGTON, JtrNB > 2. Ip the . course,of a letter, to the Chinese Mtidents, thanking them for having taken ,«gj|t in the Parnell memorial demonatraQueen’s' 1 Birthday night, the Altetiijr of. the' Demonstration .Committee tm&t&ttoiu- 'kind-' assistance was most otoUrtunO, and tended largely to ;the ■uecwaofthe Committee’s efforts; and it Vas all the more gratifying seeing that j<ni were; practically speaking, requested to take part in a movement almost un'Vwftirn to , yourselves. The eight-hours’ hyetem,. unfortunately, your race has not Understood, up to the present time, but from . this, it may be said, spontaneous manetance/ you so generously afforded at Ithe late carnival, the Committee earnestly suggest your early emulation or that treaettre so dear to the British workman—the eight-hours’ system.”

The Dunedin Evening Star says;—For some time past the Directors of the Union Comtwny have had nnder their consideration the adoption of a scheme by which the relations, between the .Company and their employees afloat'would be drawn more closely together, and the carrying out of which would tend to make eaoh take a more direct : iitereat in the other’s welfare, and so lead to the establishment of a strong bond Of sympathy between them. As the most likely means -of bringing about this deucabie state of Affairs, the Directors have decided .to establish a Mutual ’'itoefit 1 ' -Society,- to he • maintained by contributions frpm the members, ssiiirM' ''hy' f a , contribution from the rirnijigilT «r£6b,o par annum. In addition subsidy the Company give a ionittOtt' of £SOO to'start the Society. T&s' tro be conferred are similar to fhoee granted by other Benefit sf*., pecuniary telief in cases of sickness or disablement -by accident; medical attendanOe shd funeral ' allowances, &c.; but the subsidy contributed enables tbe members’ contributions to be ftxed at rates much lower than usual, while • new and'attractive feature of the Society Is • provision for refunding to members retiring froin the service the surrender value of their contributions. The Society came Into existence oh June 1. The Directors of tho Company are greatly interested in tha.- result, of , their experiment, as they look upon the Benefit Society as a step towards the establishment of a pension fold ’fpr.tije.'heuefit of employees retiring •fter a! long period of service in the CompMy’semjilpyment.