WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9510, 4 September 1891, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

[Special to Press Association.! [Received Sept. 3, at 12.30 p.m.] PARIS, Sept. 2. The tramway men are going out on strike again. [Received Sept. 3, at 8.15 p.m.] LONDON, Sept. 2. The Dockers’ Union invites tho Trades Union Congress to support a State Board of Arbitration with equal representation of capital and labour. WELLINGTON TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. At a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council to-night, the following resolutions were carried:—" That this Council is of opinion (1) that tho Legislative Council has shown class prejudice in dealing with those Liberal measures known as the Labour Bills which have been considered during the present session of Parliament; (2) that, assuming that it is the function of the Legislative Council to review measures passed in the House of Representatives, with a view to act as a check upon hasty legislation, tho majority of its members have given no proof that they possess the mental fitness required to discharge the duty; (3) that the action of the Legislative Council in shelving the Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill in the interests of the Union Steamship and other Companies is subversive of tbe interests of existing registered Friendly Societies, and inimical to those of the working classes ; (4) that the Legislative Council as at present constituted is entirely out of touch with the Democratic spirit which predominates in the Colony ; (5) that the Government will be fully justified in taking immediate steps to secure the representation of the interests of the people of the Colony in the Legislative Council, with a view to prevent mutilation and rejection fay that body of measures passed in the House of Representatives by the representatives of the people.” THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ ACT, FEELING IN LYTTELTON. Lyttelton is a stronghold of the Friendly Societies, and that being so it is only natural that the measure introduced into the House by Sir George Grey should have received considerable attention from residents of the Port. That the desire was to see it become law goes without saying, consequently the action of the Upper House in rejecting the measure has provided another opportunity for,discussing| tho radical reform of that chamber. The officers of some of the Lyttelton Friendly Societies had taken steps some short time ago to got an expression of opinion, from not only the residents of Lyttelton, but also the crews of the various steamers trading to Lyttelton. These latter are men who would be affected by one of the schemes lately put forward by their employers, a scheme which, if Sir George Grey’s Bill had been permitted to become law, would have died a natural death. As stated before, the result of these enquiries showed clearly that the persons, who would be affected by the scheme, were of the same mind as the vast majority of the railway employees are with regard te the Railway Commissioners’ pet Insurance Bill, which has on a second attempt proved a dismal failure, as far as its being acceptable to the man is concerned. The action of the Legislative Council in rejecting the Bill has called forth much adverse comment, as, for reasons which need not here be mentioned, tho Lyttelton men were particularly interested in seeing it become law. A petition to the Government is spoken of', asking it to again introduce the measure. RAILWAY INSURANCE BILL. [communicated.] A largely-attended meeting of railway employees (favourable to an insurance scheme) was held at the railway station last evening, for the purpose of considering the Insurance Bill now in circulation amongst them, and suggesting amendments for its improvement. Mr Pilkington was voted to the chair, aud explained tho objects of the Bill, and also read numerous communications from employees at country stations, Timaru and Dunedin, favourable to the Bill, if amended as suggested at the meeting cn Sunday. A resolution was almost unanimously passed—" That this meeting believes that an insurance scheme is desirable, and that we now proceed to examine the Bill clause by clausa, making suggestion for its improvement so as to make it more suitable to our needs and forward them to tho Commissioners.” The Chairman here explained that as the meeting was called to enable those favourable to a consideration of the Bill to meet for that purpose, it must be apparent to those who.had voted against the resolution that their presence was not in accord with the terms of tho notice calling tho meeting, and ho must ask them to retire. A large number of valuable suggestions were received, and a Committee was formed to put tho suggestions in workable form and submit them to a future meeting for farther consideration, before sending them on to the Commissioners. At tho close of tho meetings telegram was received from the Chairman of a similar meeting held at Lyttelton, stating that tho meeting there had been attended by about seventy persons. The Bill had been thoroughly discussed, and the following resolution was carried by a large majority: >• That this meeting, although not approving of tho present Bill in its entirety, feels tho necessity of a Bill providing for the future of present and future employees.” . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.