WORK AND WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13666, 6 February 1908, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

BUTTER-WORKERS' DISPUTE. WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYERS. [BT telegraph.—press association.] Palmkrsto.v North, Wednesday. The Conciliation Board eat here to-day to hear the dispute between the butterworkers and their employers. .The employers refused to give evidence on account of the fact that Mr. Collins sat on the Board, and accused him of acting in a dual capacity— agitator and as judge. The Chairman said he regretted that they should take that stand, and informed them that according to section 60 of the Act they could he. compelled to appear, and if the meeting adjourned this would be done. ~ The employers then withdrew, and theK sitting of tile Board was adjourned to Wellington, where its sittiug will open at a date to be fixed.

POSITION OF GENERAL LABOURERS [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Ddnedin, Wednesday. The Arbitration Court to-day took the dispute between the Dunedin and Suburban General Labourers' Union and the employers of Dunedin and suburbs. Mr. Scott, instructed by the Builders' Association, the Drainage Board, the City Corporation, and tho Mornington and Ros* lyn municipalities, raised the question of jurisdiction on the ground that the matter of a wage for general labourers had'been dealt with when the dispute was before tho Court in November, 1906. Tho President said the Court held that it possessed jurisdiction in the present application made by the General Labourers' Union to fix wages. They thought the construction to be put on the award of 1906 was that it fixed only the wages of pick and shovel men in work for building contractors, and it was therefore quito competent fo ; .' the Labourers' Union to come to the Court and ask for an award.

The evidence was then read, after which the Court took time to consider its decision. V

AMALGAMATION OF UNIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Duxedin, Wednesday.. At a conference of delegates from the Chemical Manure Workers', -Shearers', Mnsterers', and Milton Farm Labourers' Unions to-day £25 was guaranteed as the nucleus of a fund to bring about the amalgamation of the whole of the Otago and Southland agricultural and farm labourers' unions and kindred unions into one federation, with the object of obtaining .political representation so as to secure the administration of the labour laws a,i they stand on the Statute Book.

; Southland meat workers. [be ■.TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] : Invercargill, Wednesday. The Southland Freezing Works Union has adopted the agreement come to between the delegates of that body and the representatives of the freezing companies in the conference recently held. The new agreement provides for, an increase of wages to Is per Jiour, 1. ordinary. time; with double time on Christmas Day and Good Friday time and a-half on Sundays, Easter Monday, Prince of Wales' Birthday, Sovereign's Birthday, Labour Day, Regatta Day, and' Anniversary Day and preference given to unionists.

SHEARERS' DEMANDS. ,' [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Palmerston North. Wednesday. The Manawatu Daily Times, giving further information regarding the coriterence of shearers and sheepowners yesterday, states that in one respect it was,in error, one informant haying assured it that 17s 6d was finally agreed on for machine shearing, as claimed for the fanners, whereas on this point the farmers gave way and agreed to the shearers' claim for 20s. Thus machine and hand shearing are to be 20s.

The position has been widely discussed to-day,, especially at the Feilding Show, where a large ; number of sheepowners were assembled. Another clause of importance suggested by the farmers and accepted by the shearers, exempts members of the farmers' family from the award, so that they can shear, as at present.