WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16193, 20 March 1913, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES.

PORTSMOUTH DOCK YARDS. United Press Association —By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 18. The dock yard men at Portsmouth are asking tho Treasury to receive a deputation in connection with increase of wages, otherwise they will convene a conference of all the trade unionists in the Government employment in tho dock yards towns. NEW SOUTH WALES MINERS. THE SOUTH COAST STRIKE. - SYDNEY, March 19. The whole of tho south coast mines are now idle. It is stated that a considerable section, of tho men did not favour a strike, but tho irritation over the police espionage at Saturday s meetings supplied the spark that united them. The miners declare that they never heard of the police insisting on being present at the masters’ meetings, and fail to see why they should attend the men’s gatherings. It is hoped that to-day’s aggregate meeting will open a way to settlement, otherwise it is likely that there will be more serious developments. A deputation of tho Southern Miners’ Federation saw Mr Carmichael and submitted proposals that all the strikers should return to work on condition that a special tribunal should bo appointed to dccido tho matters in dispute, both sides binding themselves to accept the decision. Tho matters to be discussed would include the dismissal of Russell and two other miners. Mr Carmichael offered his services to tho industrial registrar as intermediary and tho registrar will confer with the masters to-day. Mr M’Gowen and Mr Carmichael both declined tho invitation to attend tho aggregate meeting. (Rectived March 19, 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 19. Tho aggregate meeting of miners resolved not to resume until Russell and two others are reinstated, a tribunal to bo appointed later to investigate. AUCKLAND TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 19. The tramway employees considered the reports by the representatives who attended three unsuccessful conferences with iho company. The latter was not inclined to concede the men’s demands owing to tho increased expenditure involved. It had made a slight concession, but not sufficient to help the Union in arriving at a mutual agreement. A proppsal to givo fourteen days’ notice to tho company was considered, but ft was decided to postpone drastic action until a more favourable opportunity. It was strongly hinted that tho Exhibition time would bo a good opportunity. It was stated that tho new demands would involve the company in an additional expenditure of £20,000 per annum. CLOTHING TRADE WORKERS. DOMINION AWARD VERY DISAPPOINTING. THE HON J. T. PAUL’S OPINION. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, March 19. The Hon J. T. Paul (president of the Clothing Trado Workers’ Union) stated to-day that ho considered the dominion award governing the clothing trade exceedingly disappointing, as, with but one exception, it mado no improvement in tho conditions of tho clothing trade workers. Tho exception was that an increase, of 2s Gd per weok was granted in minimum wage of journeywomen, who have been at the trade for five years. “ Tho working life of the majority of tailoresses, however, ” continued Mr Paul, “is comparatively short, and five years is more than half of that average working life. Therefore, the increase would have been much fairer had it been mado to come into operation on tho completion of a girl’s apprenticeship and improvorship at the end of four years. , “ Tho Court,” said Mr Paul, “ has attempted to remedy tho iniquitous working of the bonus system, which U;P to the present time left a girl in ignorance of the basis or method of allocating bonus. The Court has decided to repudiate tho bonus system, but tho statement in tho memorandum that the Workers’ Association asked to have the system prohibited, but the Court declined to do that, is entirely incorrect. What , w'o asked was, not that a bonus should be prohibited, but that no arrangement should be made to pay any workers by any system of bonus, except under such conditions as should be agreed on between the employer and the local Union interested.

“ Wo urged very strongly that some protection should be given to tailoresses,” continued Mr Paul. “ The mannor in which the Court has attempted to give protection is as follows : ‘ln all cases where a bonus is paid to workers it shall he the duty of tho employer to state to the workers concerned the basis on which such bonus is calculated, so that each worker may know the amount he or she is entitled to receive, and be able to check tho calculation.’ Wo hope the Court’s attempt will in some measure minimise what has proved a most unfair and. reprehensible practice.” Mr Paul spoko very emphatically on the different wages, to female and male machinists. Ho said: “The Court provides for a minimum wage of £2 15s for male, machinists. What a discrepancy exists between the'woman’s wage of 27s 6d and tho £2 15s provided for male machinists, as both do identically tho same work. In no other case has the Court granted any improvement. Tho disappointment is all tho gr.eator in view of the fact that tho minimum wage for a highly skilled cutter is £3 per week in Australia. “I. think the Court has given insufficient consideration to the workers,” said Mr Paul, in conclusion, “ and has been over-awed by tho threats of some employers to close the factories. I think the public, when it understands tho conditions and the wages fixed by tho new award, will sharo our disappointment.” LOCOMOTIVE - MEN. Mr W. M’ Alley, general secretary of the Now Zealand Locomotivo Enginedrivers, Firemen nnd Cleaners’ Association, left by the Ulimaroa to attend a' meeting of the Federated Locomotivo Associations in Australia. Ho will also investigate the conditions of locomotivo men in the various States. There is said to be general discontent among tho locomotivo men in. New Zealand owing to their being paid a lower rate of pay than exists in Australia, and it is expected that a decided step will be taken by tho men in New Zealand to induce the Government to pay tho same wages ns paid by tho Australian Governments' The success of tho marine engineers in Now Zealand had added. to tho determination of tho locomotive men to act in the matter.