NEW ZEALAND LABOUR MATTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 5 March 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR MATTERS

.AUCKLAND WATERSIDE WORK- ■■- . ERS" DISPUTE. iLttXIKD PRESS A3SOCIATION.. AUCKLAND, March 4. The Conciliation! Council considered an application by the newly-formed Coal and' Cargo Workers' „Uniori, principally representing ex-s>trikers, for .an Agreement A further application was made to join the Auckland Waterside Workers' (arbitration) Union as parties to_ the agreement. The employers were cited, but declined to discuss the matter. The case now goes to the Arbitration Court direct. ■ lii the course of the proceedings, replying to the employers, Mr Way, on behalf of the union, stated that ever since the strike between six and seven hundred practical waterside workers had been absolutely refused employment on the wharves owing to the fact that the new arbitration union had declined to admit them, to membership, notwithstanding sworn affidavits that the applicants believed in the principle of arbitration. . The Commissioner agreed to the arbitration union being joined in the dispute. The president of the arbitration; union challenged several of the statements made by 'Mr Way. ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON, March 4. In the hotel workers' dispute in the Arbitration Court, evidence, for the workers was given regarding the long hours worked, and the successful operation of the six days'- week in Sydney. Mr Beveridge, for the hotel-keepers, said" that to award a six days' week would penalise the Wellington hotels against every other part of New Zealand; Such a concession would cost the Grand Hotel alone an additional sum of £717 per annum to run. He offered to WntL in the balance-sheet of the hotel on condition that it-was regarded as confidential. : Mr Carey, for the union, objected to this, procedure, and contended that the union had no opportunity of contraverting it; and, further, that the question of profit and loss in the industry should not "be considered in fixing the wages. The president ruled that he could not receive the balance-sheet, but the employers were entitled to show what the granting of the demand would mean. Decision was reserved. The plumbers' dispute and application for -a Dominion award was s ,next taken, but- it was unfinished when the Court rose. - ■ • . The Wairarapa butchers' dispute was allowed trf stand over for a'week. 'v.-:.- TIMBER WORKERS. - "". , ■". WELLINGTON, March 4. ■\ Mr d'Byine, secretary of the South-iand.-Timber Workers' Union, 'returned tc-day from.-Sydney ■-•-...-' . , ?He explained that his visit had been nnderiaken>to~ bring-about a better un-* d«rstahdihg between the New Zealand and'tlie : Australian workers. This had been: accomplished, and a reciprocal agreememv Would be entered into enabling workers going, from New Z f al » n ° to' Anatolia, ° r vice-versa, to obtain full information regarding the employment available", and the. general conditions. There were abont 5000 worker's in' New'Sotith Wales, 3500 Victoria/and 1000 in Tasmania. . Ihe industry appeared to be prosperous at present,in Australia, witb plenty of employment offering