WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15923, 8 May 1912, Page 10

WORK AND WAGES.

WAITRESSES OX STRIKE. United Prose Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, May 7. j Owing to the Wages Board having raised the wages of waitresses to 27s 6d, the restaurant-keepers have, decided to charge them 10s weekly for meals. Tile waitresses strongly resist this, and have struck in one restaurant, and in others the waitresses have fasted in preference to paying the rostauranteurs the increased price. All meals are charged threepence extra to meet the increased wages.

ARBITRATION COURT. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May .7. At the Arbitration Court,, to-day, when the matter of the dispute between the Carters’ Union and the employers was called on, Mr Davis (for the Union) said that with a view of obtaining a dominion award the local application would be withdrawn if the employers would give an undertaking that they would register as a Federation. At the suggestion of the Court the ease was allowed to stand over to allow this to be done.

John Robin, waterside worker, claimed compensation from the Union Steamship Company for injuries received while in the Company's employ. While working coal on one of the Company’s boats on June 24 last, Robin was'in charge of the “bull rope,” which guides the coal baskets out of the hold, and is controlled bv taking a couple of turns round the “ tee piece,” a sort of cleat. This “ tee piece ” was wrenched from its socket, and flying up, struck Robin on the throat. Counsel said tho Company contended that plaintiff was fit to resume his ordinary work at the end of - August-, up to which date he received half wages. Plaintiff’s case was that his voice was so injured as a result of the accident that; he was unable to take charge of the “bull rope,” which required good vocal organs for giving the necessary signals. Before tho accident he earned £3 10s 6d a week, but since his voice had gone he had not been able to make more than £1 7s 6d, though he had “ lined up ” every day. The case was adjourned in order that.a further examination might be made of Robin’s vocal chords.

WELLINGTON TAILORS’ AWARD. [Per Press Association;] WELLINGTON, May 7. MrD. Carmody, Inspector of Awards, proceeded against George Davies, Ltd., tailors, in the Magistrate’s Court today to enforce penalties for breaches of the Wellington Tailors’ Award. It was alleged against defendants that they ' had allowed bespoke work to be done under the team system, also that they had allowed work (the order for' which had been taken in the firm’s shop in Willis Street) to be done on other premises. It was stated by tho inspector that defendants had a factory in Blair Street, in which shop orders were supposed to be executed. Part of these premises were also rented by another firm. On April 3an order was taken at Davies’s shop in Willis Street, and the work was done under the team system in Blair Street by employees of another firm. Pleas of guilty were entered by the manager of the firm. A fine of £5 was imposed for each offence. FURNITURE TRADE WORKERS. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 7. Representatives of the Federated Furniture Trades Workers’ Association waited on the Minister of Labour, the Hon G. Lauronson, to-night, ana submitted resolutions passed at "the Furniture Workers’ Conference Inst March. Mr D. Moriarty said a difficulty had arisen over apprentices through present and previous awards clashing, A recent ruling of the Arbitration Court meant that there was no provision to give apprentices the increased wages to which tho unions claimed they were entitled. They wanted an amendment to make section 69 of the. amending Act clear. The Workers Compensation. Act should be amended to compel employers to insure their workmen.. The union was not frightened of the big employer, but of the small man with no plant or stock' as a guarantee of payment. Legislation was sought to prevent insurance companies compromising with victims of accidents, and to define when a worker wits deemed to be dismissed. The deputation desired that the employment of agents before Conciliation Councils should be prohibited unless with the consent of all parties. They also asked that in cases of breaches prosecuted by the Union where the Department had declined to take action, unions should be allowed the full penalties. The Minister, in reply, said he was gratified to note the conciliatory-tone adopted by the Federation in relation to the employers. He could not understand the decision of the Arbitration Court in the case concerning apprentices referred to by Mr Moriarty. He believed that the latter’s reading of section 69 . was correct. The request for compulsory insurance of workers was reasonable and ho would sec what could, be done. Ho sympathised with the request for the abolition of agents, holding that the main purpose of Conciliation Councils was that there should be nobody present to foment mischief. Ho would look into the request as to the bringing of cases, but it should be noted that for every case brought by a union, twenty-six. were brought by the Department, which seemed to show that the Department was not neglecting its duty.

THE GREEN ISLAND MINERS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, May 7. There has been practically no alteration in the position in regard to the Green Island coal mining dispute. Mr P. Webb, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, arrived in Dunedin by the first express to-day, and proceeded to Fairfield with Mr Kidd, seoretary of the Otago Coal Miners’ Union. A very large meeting of miners was held to-night, but the discussion was mostly confined to the aims and objects of the Federation of Labour.

An adjourned meeting of the Green Island coal-pit owners was held this afternoon, when Messrs Christie Bros, stated that as the maintenance men had gone out with the rest of the men the existing fires in the mine had got out of hand, necessitating the sealingup of the mine on Monday, which means that the present section will bo closed for months at least. In the meantime, another section of the field will be opened up, and by forced shifts it is honed in a,very short time to have places tor a number of men.

AN AGREEMENT.

WESTPORT COAL COMPANY AND MINERS. [Per Press Association.]

. . x DUNEDIN, May 7. An important agreement has been arrived at between the Westport Coal Company and the men employed in its mines. I his is the result of much negotiation. As far back as November the Unions on the West Coast forwarded to the company a set of demands, differmg materially f rora |] le conditions then existing, but as the holidays were ?} os f jV" hf »Kl, the company requested that the matter should be held over until after the New Year. This "'as agreed to, and a conference was held 'V * £y r . Ufu '.V between representatives of the Unions and the company, and thequestions ui dispute have been under

discussion ever since. The demands of the Unions marked such a radical alteration in the working conditions that considerable difficulty was experienced in framing an agreement acceptable to both sides, but, after a number of conferences, conducted with the best of feeling, an understanding was arrived at, and an agreement with a currency of twelve months drawn up and signed by both parties. So ended a difficulty that gave a good deal .of concern to all interested. Tho men, it is understood, benefit considerably under the new agreement. It may be mentioned incidentally that so great is the demand for coal just now that the company finds it impossible to get a sufficient number of competent miners to meet its requirements.

OPERATIVE BOOTMAKERS’ DEMANDS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, May 7. Tlie demands of the operative bootmakers represent, it is understood, an increase of wagos to tho ex rent of about 18 per cent on the cost of labour. Negotiations' so far have failed to bring about an agreement between the employers and employed, and the oartie 5 will therefor© meet m the Conciliation Council at Auckland on May 13- '