WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15716, 8 September 1911, Page 8

WORK AND WAGES.

THE COST OF STRIKES. United Press Association —By EUctrio . ■ Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. September 6. It is estimated that tho Rhondda Valley strike has depleted the Sout'.i Wales Federation funds by £IOO.OOO, wjhilst the donations from tho English Dgnd Scottish societies, totalling £75,000, \yere. also dissipated, v The printers’ strike in London cost tjie Typographical Society £40;0C0 in six months. , THE TRA DE S CONGRESS. LONDON, September 6. ‘ The Trades'Union Congress, by 9300 rotes to 1,500,000. rejected a resolution 'in favour of a citizen army enKrebr 'free from military law during pease, anu to oc used lor defensive purposts'only. 'Mr Will Thorne supported the proposal. Mr John Ward ridiculed Mr 'Thorne’s scheme, which, ho said, was identical with that of Lord Roberts. He added that the army in Switzerland had killed eighteen workers during trade disputes. 1 UNEMPLOYED NEGRO SEAMEN. ' ' LONDON, September 7. Five hundred unemployed negro seamen at Cardiff declare that since tho recent strike raised wages shipowners prefer to employ Englishmen. 1 THE RAILWAY COMMISSION. 1 (Received September 7, 9.15 p.m.) ‘ LONDON, September 7. .. Before the Railway Commission, dealing with t.he locomotive men’s case, a witness declared that a meeting of the whole of the locomotive men resolved hot to recognise conciliation if the Union Were not accepted. j UNSETTLED. t'. SYDNEY, September 7. • Hie wheat handlers’ strike is unsettled. No wheat is being leaded. ! fURNITURE TRADES DISPUTE. [Pan Pit ess Association.] 1 WELLINGTON, Septemuer 7. '.The Wellington furniture Trades Union’s dispute came betore the Arbitration Gou.'t to-day. Whoa the matter was before the Conciliation Council, the proceedings ended abruptly, and the council did not, therefore, make chy recommendation. 'ihe Court toflAy decided that it had no power to hear it, 'and the case in dispute was aeljpumed si.ie die to enable tnejiarties to' again coffte together before the Conciliation Council. • [Peb Press Association.] * WELLINGTON, September 7. •*' The Drivers’ Conference, held to-day, decided to consider the question of amalgamation with the Waterside Workers’ Federation with a view to forming.a Transport Workers’ Federation, comprising seamen, railway men, drivers, waterside workers and miners. , ■ • TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES. AN “EASY TIME” ON HACIv- • c THORNE ROAD. In regard to the dismissal of certain nen from the tramway construction works, brought up at a meeting of the Canterbury Labourers’ Union on Tuesday evening, a deputation waited on the general manager of the Tramway Board on Wednesday and stated that the four men discharged were employed three months ago on Hackthorne Road, and some ratepayers complained that the men were loafing. They were then transferred to the Windmill Road extension linb. When that was finished they were sent to the duplication on Paoanui Road. They worked there without fault' being found with them until August 28. On • that day they werei discharged. One of them asked the general manager for the reason. He replied that it was on account of their-loafing, on Hackthorne Road. Tho men waited on Mr A. Paterson, secretary of the Union, and explained that ■while there they had very easy times, because there were not sufficient drays to keep them constantly employed. The deputation asked that the men should be reinstated. Yesterday Mr Paterson received a reply from tha general manager, who said that Mr Howard had stated that the men admitted having had what they called an easy time, and that supported the complaint. He could not admit'the contention that the Board’s officers should not take notice of complaints of that character, providing they were made by reputable persons. The matter should have been adjusted bj’ reducing the number of labourers employed, and he agreed that under the circumstances the workmen themselves could not'be held responsible, and that had they been to blame action Bhould have been taken earlier. It was hoped that a larger quantity of metal would be forthcoming next Monday, and more labour would be wanted. The four - men, therefore, would he re-en-gaged if they chose to apply.