LABOUR DISPUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15736, 12 April 1913, Page 9

LABOUR DISPUTES

— «> STRIKE IN LONDON. GIRLS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE. Pies* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 11. The promoters of a lightning strike failed in their endeavours to induce, the tea-shop girls to join them. THE BARRIER STRIKE. PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT. SYDNEY, April 11. With the closing of the Central mine at Broken Hill to-morrow 4600.men will be idle. The representatives of the Silverton Tramway Company and the Barrier La-hour Federation Executive conferred. As a result the ci.cutive submitted proposals which the company's representative telegraphed to the directors in Melbourne. The Citizens' Committee, after several meetings, disbanded. No reply has been received from the Labour Federation regarding the company's offer to run provision and mail trains at ordinary rates without prejudice, provided all pickets are withdrawn. NEW SOUTH WALES MINERS. MEETING CALLED FOR MONDAY. • SYDNEY, April 11. (Received April 11, at 11.25 p.m.) An aggregate meeting of southern miners has been 'Called for Monday to discuss the position. Mr Carmichael will attend. NEW SOUTH WALES' MINERS. PROVISION AGAINST VICTIMISATION. SYDNEY, April 11. (Received April 11, at 8.50 p.m.) Referring to the southern miners'strike Mr Carmichael said the men claimed that there was a danger of union officials being dismissed because of interesting themselves in union business, which' largely concerned complaints of breaches of awards. The Government had given an assurance that a 6 soon as the House met it would do its best to amend the. Arbi- ■ tvation Act eo se to do away with the fear of victimisation. AUCKLAND GAS COMPANY. MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 11. The dispute between the Auckland Gas Company and its maintenance department (burner, cleaners, and meter waterers) was heard before the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr Justice Sim presiding. Mr Arthur Rosser appeared for the employees and Mr Grosvenor represented the company. -Mr Rosser stated that as a. result of a conference between the parties certain points had been settled, but there still remained the questions of wages, hours of work, preference, and term of the award to be decided. A longer lunch hour was also wanted, the present period extending for only half an hour. It was desired, too, that instead of leaving off at 10 o'clock on, Saturday 12 (noon) should be tho time to cease work. After evidence had been taken Mr Grosvenor said the company asked for tho right to employ youths for maintenance work'. Ho contended that the wages of the company, as far as youths were concerned, compared more than favourably with the wages paid in other trades. Providing work was started a quarter of an hjour earlier the company had no. objection to granting 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes for lunch. Although it might appear that tho wages paid by the company were less than those of the artisan it must be remembered that the work in the maintenance department was of a very light nature. Mr Rosser drew attention to the fact that all of his witnesses were physically robust. The company was a very wealthy, ono and could well afford to pay the increase. Tho court intimated that it would take, time to consider-the matter,