TIMBER-WORKERS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11690, 27 June 1901, Page 6

TIMBER-WORKERS' DISPUTE.

[BY Ti:i.t;;R.\rii.—own cohbesi'Ovden'T.] Ti; Koi'unu, Wednesday. The Conciiatio\'. Board continued the hearing of evie'ence in the timber-workers' dispute to-da\ Charles Mcock said the hours, seven a.m. to half-past live p.m., w.th 45 minutes for dinner, wee too long. He had worked in Hawke'.s Iky mills where wages were higher and hours shorter. The drag benchers were paid 8s 6(J head, and 8s tail. He was not doing, hums cutting at Tutarariki drag in 54 hours than he did in Hawke-'s Bay in 48 hours. lie was working at the mills when the hours were reduced at the request of the Kuights >f Labour from ten. to nine. The output was no less in the shorter day, and would bono less in an eight hours' day. The Tatarari'ki mill was now paying the' union demand 5r most jobs. A recutter saw was equal to a second circular. Personally he was acquainted with three men 'win? had been tilled and 31 who had been maimed at the mills, Pie could give then names, mid there were many others he did not kiow. He lost three fingers at Aoroa. as recutUr, and was off work for nine weeks. The employers paid the doctor's bill and half wages while he was laid up. The employees paid the other half. He returned to work at full wages. He had three months' cooperative Wi>rk under the county engineer at ordinary rates. He worked nine hours a day, aud mule 9s 3d a day. Outside work was better paid, than mill work. It was not fair to ;sk men to work at dangerous jobs at ordinary rages. David Russell, head circular at Aoroa, si id he received 8s 4d c'av shift and 9s '2d night. lie was mostly on nigh' shift. He considered the union right in asking for payment of wages in full and weekly without deductions. He did not consider that the reduced hours asked for would much affect the output at the mills. George Batohelor, second circulai-nian, said he had worked at- Tairua when the hours were reduced from ten to nine. Tellies were put up in the mill each morning, and were as high in nine hours as before. He was laid up six weeks with a crushed foot, received while working a jigger. First find second circulars were entitled to equal pay. The first was heavier work, but the second was quicker. James Condor., horse driver, and in charge of three horses at Aratapu, said ie winked from half-past six a.m. to eight p.m. on week days, also two hours on Sundays. He received 7s 6d a day. He considered lie should receive 8s 6d. The work was heavy on man and horses.

Henry Sharp, second mill carpenter, said his wages were 7s 6d a day of nine hours. He had much overtime, only ordinary rate being paid. He found all his own tools. The kit costs £22, and the up-keep from 2s a week upwards; 10s for the first and 9s for the second carpenter was a fair minimum. He could do nearly as much in an eight hours' day as in nine hours. There was dangerous work about shafts and belts. He knew a mill carpenter killed and another maimed. George Smith, slipman, said he. could do about as much in eight hours as in nine. More was now dore in nine than in ten before.

Mr. G. Lambert:, Hobson County clerk, stated that, the Council paid unskilled labour Is an hour for an eight hours' day, surfacemen 7s 6d a day, constant, wet or drv. The Council also paid for 14 days' holiday* at Christmas, also other regular holidays* The Council never paid any man less than 7s. Only one man was paid ar low as that. John Parsons, saw doctor. Tatarariki, said he received ]2s in a Tasmanian mill. and was now getting what the union asks at Tatarariki. He was working at Aralapu mill when the hoars were reduced. The men agreed to keep up the tallies under the shorter hours, and did so. The.tallies were higher whilst he worked there." The manager expressed his satisfaction. R. Ball, engineer, at Kopuru. said he received 12s a day and a free house, and was allowed a fortnight's holiday yearly. He worked on all holidays and on two Sundays a month. The wages claimed for engineers and all in his department were reasonable. Albert Legge, head circular at Tatarariki, with 23 years' experience, said the output was not lessened by the former reduction ol hours, and would not be much affected by the concession now asked. He was refused insurance because he was a mill hand. He remembered three persons being killed, and many injured. It was very exceptional that he should have worked so loug without being hurt Other witnesses also gave evidence. Twenty-nine witnesses in all were examined in four days. The Board have to take the bakers' case on Thursday in Auckland, and the carters on Tuesday next, so they adjourned the timber-workers' case till July •'!, -n Auckland, when the union will call further evidence, having reference chiefly* to Auckland mills. The Board left by this morning's steamer.