THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 32

THE LABOUR WORLD.

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Auckland, May 15. A deputation from the Early Closing Association and the shopkeepers in favour of the Saturday half-holiday waited upon Sir Patrick Buckley, and urged him to use his influence with the Government with a view to having the Act administered as it stood at present. Sir Patrick informed the deputation that he was glad its views of the matter had been placed before him, as he was under the impression the deputation of shopkeepers yesterday represented a concensus of opinion in Auckland in favour of Wednesday. He promised to lay the facts before the Premier, with the view of having the wishes of the deputation given effect to. Auckland, May 16. As usual yesterday afternoon was very largely observed as a half-holiday in the upper parts of Queen street and suburbs. Matters have now practically settled down to what they will be until the final decision of the law Court is given. The Onehunga Borough Council have fixed Wednesday for the half-holiday. Gisborne, May 16. Sir Patrick Buckley, who is a passenger by the Mararoa, was interviewed on board to-day by a deputation of trades people, who represented to him the position of affairs regarding the half-holiday at Gisborne. - Sir Patrick said he was powerless to do anything, but would represent to the Minister for Labour the request of the deputation to have proceedings stayed pending the session of Parliament. The fortnightly meeting of the Wellington Assembly of the Knights of Labour was held in the Rechabite Hall last week. It was resolved —“ That this Assembly notes vvith pleasure the assurance of the Minister of Labour at Stratford of the intention of the Government to press forward during next session the question of rating unimproved land values.” The following motions were passed for consideration by the District Assembly, which meets in Wellington in July next: —That the Government be asked to establish State fire insurance; and to extend the municipal franchise to adults of twelvemonths’ residence ; that the functions of the Post Office Savings Bank be extended by allowing withdrawals by cheque ; that with a view to an increased use of postal notes the charge ©f 3d for <£l notes be abolished ; that the Government be asked to reduce the duties on the necessaries of life, the deficiency in revenue to bo made up by increasing the tax on land or removing the exemptions in the land tax ; that the Government be urged tp open up new coal measures by co-operative labour. The weekly meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last week, Mr A. Ward (president) in the chair. A letter was read from the Bootmakers’ Society stating that they had nominated Messrs I H. C. Jones and R. A. Gray for the Board of Conciliation. Mr C. F. Worth, one of the candidates for the City Council, addressed the Council on various municipal matters, and was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr J. Smith, junr., another candidate for the City Council, wrote notifying the | Council that he would meet a deputation from the Council to discuss the fair tender question. The President reported that the deputation which waited on Mr Beauchamp, one of the candidates for the Harbour Board, had received very satisfactory replies on the fair tender and living wage questions, and the Council resolved : “ That this Council asks the members of all unions who are ratepayers, and all those in sympathy with this Council on the fair tender and living wage question, to support Mr Beauchamp as a member of the Harbour Board.” The Bakers’ Union has nominated Mr D. P. Fisher as its second candidate for the Board of Conciliation.

The unemployed difficulty is not acute in Hawke’s Bay. Says the Hawke’s Bay Herald : —The unemployed meeting- in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon may be described as ,f a flash in the pan,” or much unnecessary ado about nothing- to do. It was convened by the Mayor at the

instance of five persons* and out of an attendance of 30* 18 registered themselves as bona.fide unemployed. Mr Aspinail, stonemason, signed on behalf of “ upwards of 90 ethers, 4 ’ but as only a faint percentage of the “ others ” put in an appearance* and their names were not forthcoming, we may perhaps be forgiven in regarding their existence as rather problematical. Sergeant Mulvili'e, the local representative of the Labour Bureau, informs us that he has only received one application for enrolment since the winter set in. A strike has taken place among the deck and barge hands on the Murray River steamers, in consequence of a proposed reduction of 10s per month in wages. More than 200 hands are affected. Brisbane, May 17. As a protest against the masters’ refusal to grant a conference to consider the recent reduction of 10 per cent, in wages, 250 bootmakers have gone out on strike. A general strike is probable. The drivers of bread carts have formed a union for the purpose of assisting the masters to keep up the price of bread, which allows the present rate of wages to be paid.