The Labour Question.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 955, 20 June 1890, Page 10

The Labour Question.

A general meeting of tho Council, whioh wa3 bald last night week, was largely attended, and Mr Kitto (vice-president) occupied the chair. The deputation appointed to interview the master farriers reported that they could not recommend that body’s affiliation , to the Council on account of it boiDg purely a Masters’ Association. The report of the Committee appointed to deal with tho Tramway and ’Bus Companies was received and adopted. A Committee was appointed to lease a place in Manners street as a trades hall. It was decided that delegates of affiliated Unions should cause special meetings of their respective Unions to be held to discuss the desirableness of giving the Council power to levy on all members affiliated in cases of dispute, such levy not to exceed Is per week. A committee was appointed to draw up I standing orders. Tho delegates from the Amalgamated Butchers’ Union (Messrs Moore and Smith', and the delegates of the Hairdressers’ Association (Messrs Brown and Shakes), took their seats at the Couucil table, and were warmly received. A letter was received from Mr Millar, Secretary of the Maritime Council, endorsing the arrangements made by the Council in the Pitone difficulty, and a committee was appointed to bring that matter to a close. The Chairman of Directors of the Woollen Company wrote urging the necessity of the Council removing the ban plaoed upon the Company’s goods, aDd it was decided to refer the letter to the newly-appointed committee, with a recommendation that the request be acceded to. A letter was received from the Knights of Labour, asking the Council to appoint a committee to meet a committee of their body in conference, with a view of amalgamating their forces in certain directions. Messrs Meyer, Lauchlin, and Richards were appointed to meet the Committee of the Knights of Labour. The Secretary of the Maritime Council wrote intimating that the dispute that has arisen between the Wharf Carters, etc., Union and the Wellington Storemen’s Union will be held over till the next-half-yearly meeting of the Maritime Council. POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS’ UNION. At a largely attended meeting of officers of the Wellington postal-telegraph service, held on Saturday night, the following resolution was unanimously passed :—“That this meeting affirms the desirableness of, and agrees to form a branch of the union of the officers of the New Zealand Postal-Telegraph Department, to be called for the present ‘ The New Zealand Postal-Telegraph Officers’ Society.’” Forty-eight members were enrolled, and an interim committee was elected to further the movement in the Wellington district. Christchurch, June 13. A branch of the New Zealand Postal Telegraph Officers’ Society has been formed here. Nelson, June 13. A branch of the New Zealand Postal and Telegraph Officers’ Society has been formed here. Greymouth, June 14. Branches of the Postal and Telegraph Officers’ Association have been formed at Greymoutb, Hokitika and Westport, which include nearly every officer on the West Coast. Napier, June 15. A branch of the Postal and Telegraph Officers’ Society was formed here last night. Auckland, June 16. The officers of the Auckland Telegraph aad Postal service have formed a branch of

the New Zealand Po3tal and Telegraph Society. Blenheim, June 16. At a meeting of the Postal and Telegraph officers, held on Saturday evening, it was unanimously agreed to form a branch of the New Zealand Pofital and Telegraph Officers’ Society. .... Westport, June 16. A branch of the Postal and Telegraph Officers'Society has been formed for Westport and district. Timaru, June 17. A branch of the Postal and Telegraph Officers’ Society has been formed here. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, (per press association.) THE LONDON POLICE. London, June 14. The police urge that Mr Munro be reinstated, and they threaten to stiike on the 20th unless they are better paid. THE POSTAL UNION. There is considerable delay and friction in postal work iu consequence of Mr Cecil &aikes suspending a large number of post moo who attended the union meetings. (per press association.) Sydney, June 13. The Employers’ Union issued a statement to-night, which traverses the appeal made by the wharf labourers for assistance throughout Australia in the event of extreme measures being adopted. The employers state that the rules of the labourers are not those drafted at the Intercolonial Conference, but are framed by local men acting on their own responsibility, and contain a number < f alterations which constitute an attempt to revolutionise the condition of the present regulations of the employment of wharf labourers. Some of the demands are admitted to be within reasoh and have been conceded, while others have made the position held by the employers almost intolerable. The most important question is the constant men, but the proportion of these to the casuals is very small. The men’s rules demand that the constant men be allowed to join the Union, but they shall sign no agreement, shall receive the current rate of wages, and shall be subject to be called out when needed. No firm is to employ more than five hands who are not to work on the wharf. This practically amounts to saying that they will not admit permanent hands at all, or give any members a chance of preferment from precarious to per•ymaiienfr employment. The men lay great stress on the point that their just rights are infringed by the constants, but statistics show that the average throughout the year has been 25 casuals to one constant. When through slackness of work the constants are given a holiday, and afterward allowed to lecoup themselves by working overtime, the average earnings this ivay never ex--ceed 5s or 6s per week. This amount distributed over the casuals, the statement adds, would not represent more than Is 6d to 2s per man per annum. The labourers state that the majority of the constants are paid L2 os per week of 60 hours, but this assertion, though nominally correct, is seriously calculated to mislead, as the men are only expected to work 56 hours, and with the overtime recoup themselves the loss sustained by holidays ; and their wages amount to L2 8s or L2 9s. The employers state that the real cause of the trouble lies in the fact that the constants are a great deal better off than the casuals, and many of the constants are. now unionists. The employers have no objection to the men joining any Union they pleas 3. The great principles with v/hich the employers and the men are at present at variance is expressed in the proposal of the employers as follows :—“That freedom of contract be allowed between the employers and labourers in regard to the time and conditions of the men on regular weekly wages, and that bona fide constants only be worked.” The employers ask that the constants be at call for 56 hours ; but both parties know that, owing to the fluctuating nature of the Avork, they do not average more than 48 hours. The emp’oyers decline to pay for “ smoke oh,” and are at an utter loss to conceive Avhy the men should object to sign an agreement for 12 months. What encouragement, they ask, is there .to make concessions if no guarantee will be granted that they are to have at least a short term of quietness. June 16. The conference of the marine officers and steamship OAvners will be held on June 25. From the relations at present existing, there appears every probability of an amicable arrangement. London, J une 12. The Orient Company having discharged two firemen and replaced them Avith blacklegs, it resulted in the stevedores and 300 labourers (not dockers) going out on strike. ' The police in the Metropolis refrain from striking, as they fear such a step Avould lead to the introduction of legislation detrimental to the interests of trade unionists. The East India Dock Company, having abolished tAvo or three dockers’ representatives at their dock, 2000 men have struck Avork as a protest against the action. A strike is also imminent at the Victoria Docks owing to the Company discharging 80 of the prominent hands.

London, June 16. ' The Dock Company have yielded and the men will resume work. ~ London, J une 17The leading companies at the Albert Docks have arranged to employ labour to Avork their ships independent of the Dock Companies. Sixty thousand miners at Barnsley have adopted the Eight Hours Bill. (per press association.) O amaru, June 12. Stops are to be taken to form a labourers’ and trades union here. Dtjnkdin, June 16. Another batch of eighteen of the men iately out on strike were taken on at the Point mine to-day. Christchurch, June 12. A deputation from the Trades and Labour Council waited by arrangement on a jarge meeting; of the Master' Bakers’ Association to-night iu regard to the journeymen’s grievances, and the refusal of certain masters to carry out the compromise recently agreed upon by the Association. On entering, they were informed that, in consequence of the turn affairs had taken, it had been decided to disband the Assoeiation. The Council will probably hold a meeting to consider the sitnation. Christchukch, Juno 16. At a meeting of the Grocers Assistants’ Union to night, the proposal to join with the Drapers Assistants’ Union was well received. A letter was received from the Masters’ Association announcing their willingness to close at 6 p. m., including Saturday, if unanimity could be secured. The Typographical Association voted £5 to the unemployed Pitcne hands. The Trades and Labour Uouncil on Saturday adopted amendments on the Sweating Commission report. The principal sugges. tions are that Government forward to the Council the names and credentials of applicants for inspectorship, the Council to have the right of selection or rejection of all, and where there i 3 no Council, the Trades Unions tobave the same power, employers to be bound to teach the trade to apprentices; no apprentice to be taken under fourteen years of age; female shop assistants to be under the same regulations as factory hands ; no contract to be let by Government or local bodies at a lower price than will enable the contractor to pay Union wages ; and that there be nnifornity of school books v/hich shall be printed at the -Government office or some office employing Union labour. It was resolved that the Council views with regret that the City Council should entertain' the idea of accepting a tender for printing which would render payment of Union wages impossible, and also to request Bishop Julius to use his iofluence to prevent the Diocesan printing contract going to any firm not paying Union wages. Timaru, Jane 12. A check occurred to-day in wqrking the New Zealand Company’s ship Abercorn. 'I he ship was commencing to discharge 600 tons of ballast with her crew when the wharf labourers gave notice that they would not empty the trucks nor load the vessel if the crew worked ballast. The agent and master gave way, and the labourers set to work in the afternoon. The labourers claim that they should work ballast, as this is straightforward work, while in stowing cargo there is much broken time. Christchurch, June 17. At a meeting of the building trade to-night it was decided to take steps to form a union. The trade, it is stated, has long been in an unsatisfactory state, the cut-throat competition having produced low wages and bad work.