LABOUR DISPUTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4427, 6 August 1901, Page 3

LABOUR DISPUTES.

COXCILI ATIO X B OAK _ •; TUK PAINTERS’ DISPUTE. The Conciliation Hoard resumed the hearing of the dispute in the painters’ trade yesterday. The chairman read the following rcso, lution of the Hoard in connection with Mr Smith’s application for the attachment of certain public bodies and others, ‘‘Thai on the ground that -Mr Smith, a duly accredited representative of the Wellington Harbour Hoard, who applied for the attachment of certain public bodic* and others, docs not, and ha.s refused to. say that the said public bodies and others "named in the list put in by Mr Smith employ, or even are believed by ]iimi to employ, any workmen to do any painting, tlie Hoard refuses to grant, -Mr Smiths application.” Mr Smith announced that Mr Willis, M.H.R., would appear on the following day to protest, against public bodies being attached to tho present .dispute. Mr Pirani, AT.H.R., would also appear to protest against public bodies being dragged into these disputes. Captain Strang, representing the Union Company, handed in s ome papers

which contained, he said, the results of Saturday’s conference between him and th>' union. The parlies appeared to be agreed in (lie main, the only difference remaining being the question of wages! With respect to wages, the company would put in counter-proposals. Tho parties agreed t.o the following hours of labour:—B a.m. to o p.m., and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays; also that three quarters of an hour should bo allowed for dinner; overtime to remain as at present; that wages .should bo paid .on Friday from 12 to 1, at the company's odiecs; that country and suburban work and at the slip should bo conducted as at present ; that the company should not discriminate against unionists. Mr .1. It. Cole commented on the fair spirit in which tho Union Company had mob his side, and regretted that some of the other employers were not animated by a similar spirit. Captain Strang put in the Union Coin puny’s counter proposals with regard to wages. The wages would be paid at tho present rates. Tho examination of Mr Cole was resumed by Captain Strang. J. Charlton Smith was also recalled. Captain Strang observed that it did not matter to the Union Company whether men volunteered evidence or not, or whether they were unionists or not. , The company treated them all the same. Wm. Moore, shipwright and foreman carpenter to the Wellington Harbour Board, examined by Mr Smith, said h« had had charge of th e , Boai’d’s outdoor painting and glazing lor the last thirteen years. He preferred sailor men to do the rough painting required by the Harbour Board, because they could rig their own stages, which the ordinary painter could nob do. A brush hand was good enough for shed painting. His experience was all in favour of sailor-men for rough work. It was in the best interests of the Harbour Board and the public for whom it worked that its painting and glazing should bo continued on the present lines. To Captain Strang : Ho considered £3 a week (Is 3d an hour) a fair wage. To Mr W. C. Noot; He had never seen a painter rig a stage. T. G. Boon, labour foreman to the Harbour Board, said a wharf labourer was generally a handjy man. He preferred sailoranen for painting work to any other class. It was never necessary to go off the wharf for men to do rough work. To Mr Cole : A married man could not get the necessaries of life on a wage under £3 a week. To Mr Collins: He would go to a sailor because sailors were known to bo able “to slap a bit of paint on a wall,” which answered Harbour Board purposes. John Daniels, superintendent of repairs for tho Union Company, examined by Captain Strang, said in his experience carpenters were always paid higher wages than painters. This closed the evidence in thi vjase. The Board adjourned till 10.J0 this morning. T