TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10731, 20 February 1897, Page 6

TRADES AND LABOUR.

A STRIKE ENDED,

Tress Association-By Telegraph—Copyright. . ■ Pebth, February 19. The builders' strike has been declare^ iff.

THE SEAMEN'S DEMANDS. (Per United Puess Association.) Wellington, February 19. Ihe recognition of Labour Day as a holiday for seamen is the one point beiug considered by the Conciliation Board. The chairman suggested, thafc employers and the union should approach the Government; and ask them to proclaim one day for fche whole of the colony. Ifc was then agreed thafc the board should be' the — constituted body to approach both parties and get the matter settled. Several owners said their boats were not paying now, and they could not possibly increase the rate of wages The competition of larger companies like the Union Company was squeezing small owners out. The court finished taking evidence and reserved its decision.

THE FURNITURE TRADE UNION.

THE CONCILIATION BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED.

A special meeting of the United Furniture Trades Union was held in the Coffee Palace last evening, Mr Ward (the president) being in the chair. The union's representatives having explained the decision of the Conciliation Board the following resolution was adopted :—" That the United Furniture Trades' Union accpts the decision of the Court of Conciliation z given at the Supreme Court, Dunedin on the _ 15fch inst., and while accepting that decision this union feels convinced that the court has adopted the same lines ag the employer* had previoufjy adopted—namely ■■' cutting down the price paid for labour, and reducing the standard of living to thelowesfc point; and considering that the court's decision should be very satisfactory to the employers this union desires that the decision of the -Bourf; should be put iv operation as goon as possible, and trusts that in consideration of the k*^ rital point* the union has conceded the clause relating to apprentices wiU be strictly adhered to." -

Ml .■*■• Lone was appointed by the union as umpire ef the committee to deal with disputes It was . decided to write to Mr R. Slater' secretary Trades and Labour Council, heartily thanking him for his services in connection with the union. Ifc was also decided to forward a letter of thanks to Messrs Chisholm and Lorie and to the other employers who signed the original log. The half-yearly balance sheet, showing a credit balance of £10 7s Bd, was submitted and adopted.

Mr J. Oakley Brown, formerly a Journalist in New Zealand and now secretary of the Amalgamated Workers' Association afc Coolgardie, has sent a telegram from that goldfield stating thafc thousands of miners and others are unemployed there, and warning men who intend going thither in quest of employment. The eighth report on trades unions iv Gresfc Britain, prepared by Mr Burnett, the chief labour correspondent of the Board of Trade dialing with the years 1894-95 has been issued in the form of a Blue Book. The report states that while toe unions have risen in the lasfc five years—lß9l-95-from 431 to 1250. or 190 per '??&s?■? membership haa only increased from 1,109,014 to 1,330,104-a rise of under 20 per cent. Ifc appears, in fact, on examination, that out of the total membership of the 1250 unions, 911,866, or over 68 per cent., are included m 100 societies, the remaining 1150 only accounting for 418,238, or less than 32 per cent, of the members. The proportion of the total income and accumulated funds of the trade unions which is accounted for by the 100 societies is still more remarkable. Among them these secieties had in 1894 an income of £1,624,332, or nearly 81 per cent, of the total income of £2,009,668 of all societies making returns, while thair accumulated funds amounted to £1,551,093, or over 80 per cent of ■Win. total of £1,938,759 for all societies.