TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10620, 16 March 1896, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOUR.

WELLINGTON LABOUR NOTES. (Fkom Obb Own Oobecspojtdbnt.)

WfiLLisraToNj Match 15,

A few days ago I sent you particulars of »n attempt being made by the local branch of ths New Zealand Workers' Union to relieve the unemployed distress here. It is gonerally admitted that the number of men out of employment in Wellington at the present time is something out of the common for this time of the year, and unless the Government are prO" . pared to face the position boldly with some substantial scheme, the prospect for the coming Winter is a very serious one. Svrtakicß nt a meeting of the Workers' Union on Friday evening a prominent member said he was assured on the beat authority that the Government were about to make an attempt to grapple with the unemployed difficulty, in an earnest manner. He was much distressed to find men- walking about our streets nnable to obtain work, but he did not believe there were so many unemployed in Wellington as was generally supposed. He was told that the number was between 200 and 300, bnt so far as he could see there Were not more than 150. Another speaker asserted that there were fully 500 men in thA^city in the ranks of the unemployed, and that many strong healthy felloes with wives and families, who had been working on the wharvc-n for years, had not been averaging more than £5s a week each. A meeting of the unemployed of the city has been convened by the Workers' Union for to-morrow inorning, when probably Borne reliable information as to the position of things here will be obtaiEdble.

It is understood that in consequence of representations which have been made as to the existence of "sweating in Wellington, the Premier has instructed the labour department to ascertain whether it is a fact that certain tradesmen are in the habit of employing girls at a remuneration of uot more than 2a 6d per week. Onenf the speakers at t!ie meeting of the Workers' Uuion stated that in a certain country town in this district a girl Was employed to knit stockingsty machinery at prices ranging from 44 to '}d per pair, and was only able to earn 4d a day. There is a wsll-deflnsd split amongst the different trade organisations hers just how. For soule time past c number of the unions 4nd trade societies have shown much dissatisfaction at the Trades Council, and the strength of thfct body his dwindled greatly.' There are how only some half doz9rt union* affiliated to the council, while foe non-affiliated bodies total about 8 score. These iion> affiliated bddles proposa to unite in forming an organisation on similar lines to the Tradeß Council, bnt a!tbgßther independent of it. The representatives of both the rival parties here hold interviews with the Premier on the subject of future labour legislation.

(Per UiHtbd pRKSs Association.)

Cbeistchuhch, March IA.

A meeting of the committee of the Progressive Liberal Association andthe Trades and Labour Council was held last night to reoeite a report on alleged sweating in Chiistchurch. It was' decided to reqaest the Government to introduce the Muster and Apprentice Bill, also to bring forward a measure giving efleet to the principles of eight hoars a day and a minimum wage.: