WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10309, 30 March 1894, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

THE EIGHT HOURS SYSTEM. [Special to Prsss Association.! LONDON, March 29. The owners of the Salford ironworks are so satisfied with the result of a year’s experiment upon the eight hours’ system that they intend to make it permanent. The Times urges that the whole of the engineering and the other skilled trades should follow their example. THE TRADES CONFERENCE. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 29. The Trades Delegates’ Conference resumed its sittings to-day. The Conference in committee considered Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co.’s wagesshoet. The Industrial Conciliation Bill was considered. A resolution, was carried in favour of the Labour Bills to be introduced in the House of Representatives being circulated two months prior to the Trades Conference among the Trades and Labour Councils. Mr Ward moved—“ That the Minister or Labour be requested, when taking into consideration'tho amendments required in the Factory Act, to insert a clause providing that clothing of all descriptions made for sale or to order shall be made in registered factories only.” The motion, which was seconded by Mr Lyon, was discussed at length and carried. The Masters and Apprentices Bill was introduced for consideration. Th« printed Bill was laid before the Conference. A Bill, drafted by Mr J. A. Millar, of Dunedin, was also submitted, and the two were compared, in order to arrive at a measure which would suit the views of the Conference. Mr Crawley intimated to the Conference that a gum-digger was willing to attend and produce a copy of an agreement made with gum land - owners, and submit it to the Conference. At an adjournment the man appeared. He produced what he said was a copy made of an agreement between himself and a gum laud proprietor, but the names were not allowed to transpire. No action was taken. The same man appeared in the afternoon. He said he could, if necessary, show the Press the original document. When pressed, however, he declined either to give hie name or show the document. Subsequently ho handed ia tho following copy of the document: —Jan. 20,1894. Not transferable. Mr —is hereby permitted to dig for kauri gum on the field known as , within the lines indicated to him, upon the conditions that as all the gum on my field is my property, ho sell all gum dug by him to me only; and, secondly, that he pays a royalty, of la per cwt; and, thirdly, that ha pay £1 sterling for a license. I reserve to myself the right of removing the said —— at any time st one day’s notice. Consideration of the Masters and Apprentices Act was resumed. Mr Jones took exception to some of the provisions of Clause 4, as to the signing of indentures, and he proposed—“ Tnafc tho following words be added: * Every child so indentured must at least have passed tho Fourth Standard.’” Tho amendment was lost. In Clause 6, binding of a child as an apprentice, the Act provides for three months’ probation, bat this was amended to read one month. The Conference then proceeded to the consideration of suggested clauses. The following new clause was adopted:—“No master shall receive, directly or indirectly, any money or money’s worth, either at the signing of an indenture, during its currency, or at the completion, from the parent or guardian of any apprentice, or from anyone on their behalf, nnder a penalty of £SO for each offence.” The discussion on Clause 10 was deferred until next day, and the Conference then proceeded to discuss the other clauses of the Act in detail.