TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 6

TRADES AND LABOUR.

THE N.S. WALKS COAL TEADE DISPUTE.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 25. \

(Received July 25, at 9.40 a.m.)

As mediator in the threatened trouble in the coal trade, the Premier had an interview with the coal owners. He suggested .that they should grant an increase of 2d on the hewing rate, as asked.by the miners, from September 1, on the understanding that it should be refunded for the first four months next year on a basis of the promised increase in the selling price to 10s a ton. The owners agreed to this proposal, and the conference then adjourned to enable Sir W. J. Lyne to see if the miners would accept the suggested terms.

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. (Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 25.

The President of the Arbitration Court has given it as his individual opinion that preference to unionists did not mean that a non-unionist, who had been in continuous employment in the absence of ineligible unionists, was to be termed off as soon as a unionist became available.' This is important, as in some quarters a contrary impression prevails.

THE FACTORY ACT AND ENGINE-DRIVERS. (Pun United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 25.

A meeting of manufacturers was held today to protest against clause 39, subsection 7, of the proposed Factories Act, providing that all engines, under five horse-power be driven by certificated engineers. The meeting was largely attended. It was unanimously resolved to disapprove of the proposal as opposed to the manufacturing and farming interests, and poinb out that 50,000 such engines are in daily use in England without certificated engineers, also that the proposed legislation would retard the progress of manufacturing industries in the colony a.nd encourage importing. A resolution against the proposed legislation was also passed by the Chamber of Commerce. The following telegrams have passed between Mr Malcolm Fleming and the Premier:—"Hon. Mr Seddon, —Re Factory -Act gas engine clause : I am struggling with salt manufacturing. If engineer clause is inserted, the- industry is killed at its inception.—Malcolm Fleming." Reply to Malcolm Fleming :—" The clause referred to will be struck out of the bill, or amended so as not to interfere with your industry.— R. J. Sf.ddon."

At tho presentation at Wellington to the Hon. Mr Rigg, tho speakers expressed dissatisfaction at the award of the Arbitration. Court in the "Wellington linotype dispute. Mr R. E. Vaney said the award had done more to bring the Conciliation and Arbitration Act into disrepute than anything that had been dono by the unions, as the printers had not received that amount of consideration which was their due. The Premier, referring to a remark made by Mr R-igff, that the money presented to him would be welcome, dwelt at some length on tho duty of the State to provide sufficient remuneration to enable members of Parliament to maintain themselves in a true position. When one speaker urged that labour members of the Legislative Council should be paid more than £150 n year, the Hon. .f. G. Ward showed his accord with tho remark by interjecting, "Hear, heitr."