NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15265, 1 April 1913, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

■ ;■■■=, ;,.: -.'■-; ■ %.-: Tina Aucldandfishcarers' dispute is to be heard to-day -by:the, Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. Hai-le Giles). The claim is on© involving general increases in.pay. all round and a betterment of working conditions. Mr. A. Bosser will conduct the case for the union. The quarterly meeting of the Auckland Tramways Union is to bo held next Tuesday at the Trades Hall. Tile p.m.. shift meet at 10 a.m., and the a.m. shift at 8 ]p.m. It is stated that there are a number of important questions to be dealt with by the members. Among these probably the most, important will be matters regarding the recent conference, which the union representatives had with the company. An objection has been lodged by the employers against the coming into operation of tho bookbinders' new award. The dispute was heard last December, and a complete settlement was arrived at, but it now transpires that no provision was made in the settlement to prevent payment for holidays, and it is owing to this fact that the objection has been laid by the employers. The point in dispute wiu come up for hearing ' before the Arbitration Court on Monday next. Slince the decision of the Labour Party not to ran a ticket at the forthcoming municipal election has been mad« known only two candidates have, so far decided to seek election under Labour's bannerMessrs. T. Long and A. Bosser. Still however it is stated from a very reliable source that there is every. possibility of at least one or two more being in the field before nominations close. Several -': have already been approached, but havlf not definitely decided yet whether they will accede to the wishes of their friends and' seek municipal honours on this occasion in Labour's interests. The ballot in connection • Vrith the elect tion of officers for the ensuing term of the Auckland Builders, Contractors, and Genera'. Labourers' Union closed .on Wednesday evening last. It will be remembered that the union was recently newly formed, and registered under the Conciliafeion and Arbitration Act, and that the necessary preparations have since been made with a view of obtaining an award for the members of the newly-formed union- The result of the ballot for the respective officers was as follows:—President, Mr. H. Solomon; vice-president, Mr. E. Corb&tt; secretary, Mr. P. W. Arns; treasurer, Mr. E. Crawford. The committee consists of Messrs. C. Gardner, W. Geard, arid J. TWilson. The delegates* elected to represent the Auckland Drivers' Union at th& annual j conference of the New Zealand Drivers': Federation, to be held in Chri!stohurch i this month, leave for the South next Fri- i day evening. The delegates are Messrs. C. Weaver, G. Davis, and J- Portoll. They expect to be away for some two or three weeks, as it is their intention when re tnirning from the conference to break their journey at Taumarunui, To Kuiti; and probably to visit Rotoroa -inconnection with the forming of branches of the Drivers' Union in these centres. It ia ', stated that the conditions prevailing in a , number of the country towns in regard .to , a driver's occupation are far from favour- . able .when compared with those enjoyed . by men employed in the cities. n .'• — ■-.- The New ; Zealand Sawmill: Workers' ' Federation was in conference on Tuesday i arid Wednesday of last week. The delei gates assembled at the Trades Hall, and .... although there was a great amount of 1 business to bo dealt with at the conference i the different questions : were discussed, at >, length,, and the work "fhbroiagMy; finished. ,< The question of th<} July conference- of Lssbour organisations and tirade union re. i presentatives, to be held in WelHrigton, . a» decided upon ■■■ at the January Labour Congress, was discussed, and it was agreed that the Timber Workers* Federation . should be officially represented in. addition , to < any representation that >■ the respective : unions affiliated to the federation might i decide upon. It was stated by the dele : gates thai their industry was a very im- , portant one, and should therefore. be* Very strongly represented at the congress.