LABOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 April 1914, Page 5

LABOUR

TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP IN BRITAIN,

(Press Association. —Copyright.)

LONDON, April 16. The Board, of Trade's labour gazette states that at the end of 1912 the trade union membershi" was 3,281,0Gu, an increase of 8 per cent, over that-for 1911. The membership has more than doubled since 1896. AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDE WORKERS. MELBOURNE, April 16. In the waterside workers' arbitration case Mr Justice Higgins awarded Is 9d an hour, with increased rates 'for tropical ports and for coal at and Hobart; overtime- to be paid at the. rate of time and a half, and holiday work atdouble time. SENSATION IN SHIPPING CIRCLES (Received 9.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The new Federal watersiders' award ■has caused a sensation in shipping circles. It is estimated tliat it will mean an increase in wages in- Sydney alone of £130,000 a year. Shipowners have- not attempted, to disguise the fact that the public will" have to pay. OPINION IN ,DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, This Day. Representatives of shipping admit that tiie new rates of pay for waterside work at Australian and Tasm'anian ports( as fixed by Mr .Justice Higgins at Melbourne, will Seriously affect all intercolonial shipping. It will also affect in a lesser degree oversea? steamers engaged in the service with the Commonwealth. The new award carries a substantial increase in the pay of waterside workers at Commonwealth porte, and the effect of the new award must,- it is' believed, come home--to tho public: