INDUSTRIAL TURMOIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8537, 18 March 1908, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL TURMOIL.

It will not bo long before every sphere of activity is pervaded by the atmosphere of unrest and discontent that accompanies the operations of the labour agitator. Many industries in the country, which by reason of the peculiar conditions under which they are carried on were thought to be safe from hampering restrictions, have come within the influence of the Arbitration Court, and the process still goes on. The latest instance is the general labourers' dispute, a class of work in which, above all, there must be freedom of contract. The demands made are very exacting, and may be summarised as follows: —"The hours of work are to be forty-six per week under ordinary conditions, btit in wet places—i.e., where the water is over the boot tops—the hours of work are to be restricted to six per day. The rates of wages for general workers range from Is 3fd per hour to Is 6d. Roadmen and the majority of county workers come under the former scale, and therefore demand 60s 4tjd per week, or 10s 6d for eight hours' work. Permanent hands where no deduction is made for wet weather are to receive 9s a day. Overtime is to be paid at the rate of time and a-half for the first two hours, and thereafter at the rate of double time. All wages shall be paid weekly in cash on the job. All tools to be supplied by the employer. Preference to Unionists is compulsory, provided that there are members of the Union equally competent with nonunionists to perform the work, and ready and willing to undertake it." It will be hard to say who is not interested in this dispute since many local bodies come within the scopo of the claims. - The conference of en> ployers at Marton decided to take the case direct to the Arbitration Court, and this will bo done forthwith, when no doubt the demands that are found to be excessive will be modified or disallowed.