WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15494, 21 December 1910, Page 9

WORK AND WAGES.

THE WELSH MINERS’ STRIKE, United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, December 20.

The prosecution, of tho Rhondda in-* timidators at Ponty Pridd led their comrades to threaten to rescue them if sentenced. Precautions have bean taken. SEAMEN’S WAGES. AN INEFFECTIVE CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, December 20. A deadlock baa occurred in the negotiations between tho representatives of the Australasian Steamship Owners’ Federation and the Seamen’s Union, regarding new agreements. Mr Mills, the chairman, announced that the conference had dissolved without an agreement having been arrived at. The Seamen’s Union’s delegates submitted proposals which the owners could not think of accepting. He was not at liberty to say what the proposals were. The employers suggested referring the case to the Arbitration Court. The present agreement will expire on December 31. BROKEN HILL MINERS. SYDNEY, December 20. Negotiations are proceeding between the Broken Hill mine owners and the Miners' Association on the subject of the latter’s demand for increased wages and preference to unionists. It is understood that the companies have offered an all-round increase, but refuse preference. ADELAIDE TRANSPORT WORKERS ADELAIDE, December 20. The ballot of tho members of the Drivers’ Association favoured resumption of work this morning. The employers, however, asked for unconditional resumption pending the conference. The men declined unconditional surrender, and tho strike therefor* continues.

WHARF LABOURERS ON STRIKE. [Pee Press Association.] WANGANUI, December 20. The wharf lumpers at Patea struck work this morning for higher wages. They have recently joined tho Waterside Workers’ Union ( and ask for the rates of pay ruling m other centres— Is 6d per hour and 2s Gd overtime; also a half-holiday on Saturday._ They refused to work three steamers in port —Aorero, Mona and Itapuni—unless their demands were acceded to. The officers and crews discharged and loaded the cargoes, the vessels getting out of port without hindrance. The men’s demands so far have not been aoceded to.

SHEARING SHED HANDS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, December 20. In the matter of tho Shearers' Union’s application for an award in connection with the shed hands, the Arbitration Court decided that reoent amendments of the Act had not altered the law on the subject, dismissed the application. Mr M’Cullough dissented.

ARBITR ATION COURT AWARDS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, December 20. The Arbitration Court award iu connection with the bricklayers’ dispute provides for a week’s w'ork of fortyfour hours, Is 6d per hour to ail journeymen bricklayers and gas retort bonch workers, and Is 9d per hour when employed at repairing boilers, furnace work of any description, tunnelling, mining shafts, sewerage work and chimney shafts above a height of 30ft, but not including any house or warehouse chimney's. Provision is made for payment of overtime, employment of apprentices and payment of wages at intervals of not less than a fortnight. In the event of a worker being discharged at any time during the fortnight he shall bo paid within one hour.

Tho saddlers 5 award provides for a week of forty-eight hours and a wage of Is Id per hour to every journeyman working at any branch of the trade. The engineers’ award for Otago and. Southland provides that overtime shall he paid for at time and a quarter for the first two hours, and 1 thereafter at time and a half. That the minimum wage ior engineers and journeymen shall be Is 4Jd an hour; that apprentices shall receive 5s a week for the first vear, 10s for the second, 15s for the tliird, £1 for the fourth, and £1 5s for the fifth; that the period of apprenticeship shall be five years; that improvers shall be paid not less than lid per hour for one year after the expiration of apprenticeship, and not less than Is 3d per hour for another year; that Unionists shall be employed in preference to non-Unioniets, provided Unionists are equally qualified. The a wal'd will come into operation on January 2. and continue until December 19, 1913. The terms of this award will apply to practically the whole of New Zealand, but separate awards will be filed in each of the centres.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 20. The Huntlv miners’ ballot on the question of the cancellation of registration under the Arbitration Act resulted as follows: —For cancellation 318, against 85, informal 11, giving a majority of 232 in favour of cancellation.

The annual congress of the New Zealand Boot Operatives’ Federation will he held at Dunedin on December 27, to consider amendments of rules and the position of the trade generally. The following delegates have been appointed :—Auckland, Messrs C. Barnes, R. Sinclair and G. Smith; New Plymouth, Mr W. Saddler; Wellington, Messrs W. Tees, J. Hutchieson and; J. Nevin; Christchurch, Messrs F. M. Robson, E. Welsford, and W. Woods; DuneaiD, Messrs S. C. Brown, P. Logan, and A. AValker; Invercargill, Mr J. Irwin. Mr G. R. Whiting, of Christchurch, the federation secretary, will also attend.