WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15861, 26 February 1912, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES.

PICKETING. United Pre»s Anociation—By Electric Tolegraph—Copyright. . LONDON, February 23. The Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, after a vigorous discussion of the abuses of peaceful picketing, resolved that tho Government must deprive the trade unions of the right conferred under the Trades' Disputes Act of inflicting damage with impunity. Sir Walter Runciman said that although he was a Radical he strongly supported a. repeal of the Act. DEMANDS BY FRENCH WORKERS. PARIS, February 24. Twenty thousand vino dressers' at Ay struck for an increase of wages. They demand six francs and three bottles of wine daily in March and April, and three and a half francs and two bottles of wine in tho winter. The miners., congress at Ang°rs declared a twenty-four hours strike on March 11 'to influence Parliament to grant their demands in respect of wages and conditions. Possibly there will be a general strike later if their demands are not conceded. STRIKE OF FIREMEN. ADELAIDE, February 25. All the firemen in the city and suburbs have struck. Thoy demanded that the Fire Brigades Board should allow them to form an association affiliated to the Trades and Labour Council. Tho Board was willing to allow them to form an association, but was opposed to affiliation. The men, without replying to the Board's ultimatum, left the stations, which are now manned by volunteers. The officers remained loyal.

AUCKLAND GENERAL LABOURERS. [Per Pkess Association.] AUCKLAND, February 24.

Mr Webb, president of the Federation of Labour, arrived her© to-day. Mr Glover, the secretary, will arrive to-morrow. Mr Parry, vice-president, has been hero for a fortnight. These three, with the president of the General Labourers' Union, will confer with the employers with a view to a peaceful settlement of the dispute as to hours and wages, over which a strike is threatening.

FEDERATION OF LABOURERS.

CONFERENCE IN DUNEDIN. [Pex Press Association.] DUNEDIN, February 24. The outcome of the conference of delegates of unions of labourers in the South Island, sitting here, is the formation of a basis and constitution of a Federation of Labourers' Unions in New Zealand. The constituent unions arc set out as follows:—General labourers (including building labourers, quarry workers, wool and grain store workers), gas-workers' unions, and such other properly constituted industrial unions as may apply for admission and be received by resolution of Council. The objects of the Association are to combine in one body all the kindred unions in order that their interests may be protected, their status raised, and their conditions improved, and to overcome . the evils arising from separate action. The Association is to be governed by a Council composed of a president, secretary and treasurer (elected by ballot of the whole of members of Association), and one delegate from each federated union. The following pledge is to be exacted from each member of the Association:—" I hereby oledge myself to accept and loyally adhere to the rules and constitution of the Federation of Jbabour Association, to conform to all its decisions, and not to work for less than the rate of wages fixed by the Association, nor take the place of any person off on strSce." Delepates at the conference are to act as a provincial council to bring about the federation.