TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10598, 16 September 1896, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOUR.

¥ reas Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. London, September 14. The dockers are demanding 3d per hour overtime.

Sy,dney, September 15.

The Bulli mice is idle, owing -to the wheelers rsfasing to work an extra half-hoar and demanding the same hours and pay as the South Bulli miners—viz., 7a instead of 6a per day. The miners declined to do wheeling, so work was stopped.

An Auckland telegram states that at the Police Court, before Mr Northcroft, S.M., Cyprian Nichols, mineral water and firewood dealer, was charged with employing Adam Craig, an assistant, later than half an hour after the time of closing. Mr M'Alister (instructed by Mr Ferguson, inspector of factories; conducted the prosecution,' and Mr Henketh appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Hesketh said he admitted the man was working on the Saturday half-holiday, but it was a question whether his client was liable. Thsre were certain questions of law involved. The questions for argument were : Is a carter within the meaning of the Shop Assistants Act? Is a woodjard a place nithiu the meaning of the act ? Is a servant employed by tha day within the provisions of tho act? Tha facts admittfld were: (1) That defendant employed Adam Craig, who was at work at 3.20 p.m. on Augußt 26, on the day legally appointed for the half-holirfay ; (2) that defendant in a minur&l water dealer as well as a coal and firewood dealer, oarrviug on business iv Auckland; (3) that the' said A. Craig was and had been for some months past employed as a carter by the. djty by defendant; (4) that the said Adam Craig was at the said hour employed carting firewood for the Saleyard of defendant. Mr Northcroft Baid he wanted to know whether Craig was employed in the mineral water department or in the firewood yard. Mr Hesketh said the man was employed in both, according to the briskness of trade. Mr M'Alister submitted that a woodyard where goods were exposed for sale was a shop within ihe meaning of the act. Mr Hesketh said Craig was only employed by the day. Did he therefore come within the provisions of the act ? He submitted it was only intended to apply to those hired on weekly wages. He admitted Nichol'g premises did not come within the provisions of the act. Mr Northcroft reserved judgment.

The usual monthly meeting ot the Bootmakers' Union was held in the Tradeß Hall lest evening, when the following resolution wan pasied:—"That tke members of this union thank the Premier for pressing the Master and Apprentice Bill to the second reading, and hope to see it become law this cession."