WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11371, 14 May 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.—press association.] Wellington, Sunday.

MINISTERIAL. The Premier went South last evening by the Rotorua. He is to return to Wellington on Wednesday next, when he will start by the Tutanekai on his holiday trip to the "Islands." It is understood that the object of Mr. Seddon's journey South is to take farewell of the Hon. Mr. McKenzic, Minister for Lands. POLITICAL RUMOURS. It is again rumoured that Mr. Hogg, M.H.R. for Masterton, is to be ActingMinister for Lands. CONCILIATON BOARD. The new unionism had a bad quarter-of-an-hour yesterday at the hand of Mr. G. F. Smith, who is now the acting-secretary of the Harbour Hoard, vice Mr. Ferguson, who has gone to Europe. The parties to the case before the Conciliation Board were the wharf labourers and the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr. Smith said the kit of a wharf labourer was a dog hook, whereas a carpenter had to find an expensive equipment of tools, and keep them in a constant state of repair. He admitted that he would want more money for working until ten at night than if he had to work only till six or seven p.m. According to the union, if 10 more minutes,were required for loading, a new gang of men had to be put on, and instead of working for ten minutes payment had to be made for half-an-bour. The Harbour Board last year paid £431 claims, £284 of that sum being for opium and £44 for goods pilfered. The union took no responsibility. That body recommended whom they like, and they claimed a preference. The Harboui Board employed only trustworthy men, and took all responsibility. The eourso of examination irritated certain of the union agents, who expressed a wish to know what the witness knew about these things, Thereupon Mr. Smith, resorting to the- first person singular, gave his interlocutors of the union some valuable information from his own experience. " I have," he said, " carried sacks of grain; I have worked in coal mines; I have erected a three-storey concrete building ; I have tied oats for reapers; I have been stooker, pitcher, and stacker; I have been blacksmith and carpenters' mate; Ido all my own painting, glazing, and paperhanging; I have shorn merino rams, and anyone who has done that knows what work is; I have been employed in road-making; I have laid drains; I have put in as many post holes as there are telegraph poles in Wellington; I have started with a team of horses before daylight, and come back after dark; I have put up 30 chains of wire-fenc-ing, although people said it could not be done; I have wheeled trucks full with grain; I have travelled along Wellington Wharf with double dumps of wool and flax." After all this it was agreed that the witness " did" know something about "manual labour." The Harbour Board, he contended, should be able to choose its own labour. If the union became liable to a fine of £500 how were tho employers to get that £500 '! To grant the extra 4Jd claimed by the union would impose upon the Harbour Board an extra expenditure of £5000 a year. THE LABOUR MARKET. Tho Labour Journal thus describes the state of trade and employment for April: — Building trade, fairly busy; shops working full time and some overtime. Boot trade is improved. Clothing trade fairly busy. Retail, very good business, but scarcity of cash. Unskilled labour: The number of applicants for employment increased. FUMIGATION. The fumigation at the goods shed now being erected at Soames Island will enable Australian mails for the whole colony to be fumigated in 24 hours. The mails of the Waikare comprised 268 bags.

RAILWAY TRUCKS. Sectional railway trucks may be lured at the following rates:—On the North Island lines, 150 miles for £30, transferable, and £25 if not transferable. Middle Island, for the same distance, £55 and £50, respectively. 'The Minister for Railways has ordered a large number of trucks to bo built by private contractors,.