WORK AND WAGES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10956, 22 December 1911, Page 4

WORK AND WAGES.

By Electric Telecr.-,™ —Copyright.]

(Per Pit ess Association.)

THE WATERSIDE WORKERS. Received DuccmliiT 22. at U. 35 a.m. Sydney, December m 2\. Though mucii discontented with the •ward, the wharf laborers worked as usual to-day. Following the recent practice, they knocked off at five tonight instead of 5.30.. the hour fixed by the agreement. It H thought probable that there will be no further move at present pending the proposed appeal against the award.

(Per Press Association.) Dunedin. December 20. A conference between the representatives of the Shipping Companies and the representatives of the Lyttelton, TimariT, and Westport waterside workers commenced this morning. Among those present were Messrs Webb (President of the New Zealand Federation of Labor) and Semple (organiser of tbe-same" body). The sitting was not open to the press. The demands were for increased wages and- an improvement of the conditions. These were discussed at considerable length. - It was eventually found that owing to the limited time before the holidays, and in view of the'fact that-several unions, whose awards we're just about to expire; were not represented, it would be to the advantage of both sides to postpone the conference till the beginning of the New Year. The conference consequently adjourned till January 10th, when what" will amount to a. Dominion Conference will then he held. In the r-can-timo work will coutinuo without hterrtiption at the New Zealand ports, pending the Tesult of' the conference. The proceedings were characterised by a very cordial* tone on both sides, and it is understood there is every prospect a~ a satisfactory settlement being arrived at by the forthcoming conference. Napier, December 21. . There are no further developments in connection with the waterside workers' trouble here. '" A conference was held this morning between the Union and tho manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, but no settlement was arrived at. Meantime tho'work of discharging tho "Wanaka is suspended. A further' conference will be held to-morrow morning.

A STRIKE ENDED. Received December' 22, at 8.5 a.m. London, December 21. The Vale of Dove dyers' strike has ended. <''■"'-.

STRIKE OF WEAVERS. London.'December 21. Fifteen factories in Dundee are closed owing to a shortage of coal. ~ Hooligans aro chiefly responsible for the disorder. . ' . The campaign in the Lancashire cotton area against non-unionists has culminated in a strike of weavers in one of the Accrington mills. The masters in North and North-East Lancashire meet to decide their course of action. A general lock-out of one hundred thousand is feared.

MINIMUM WAGES. London, December 21. The Miners' Conference, representing seven hundred thousand members, ,-s discussing the question of the minimum wage. The delegates from South "Wales, Northumberland, and Scotland favor a national strike. The militant section has increased, and it is believed is strong enough to reverse the November decision against a strike.

TRAMWAYMEN'S DISPUTE. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, December 20. According to the present indications the prospects of a settlement of the dispute between the Auckland Tramway Company and its employees are by no means bright. At the conference today the Company offered additional concessions, involving a swelling of the wages-sheet by .over £I2OO, making the total concessions conceded by the Compary ovpr £IO,OOO, but this offer, like the former one, was not accepted. The Company's amended proposals, however, will be placed before meetings of the union to be held to-morrow, and, if rejected, it is probable the men will strike at midnight on Friday. December 21

The tramway trouble is happily settled, and the men have agreed to accept the amended offer of the Company, bringing the total concessions made by the Company to over £IO,OOO per annum, as compared with the £16,000 demanded.