TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 18

TRADES AND LABOUR.

At the annual meeting of the Oamaru branch of the Railway Employes' Union, the following resolution was adopted : — " That this meeting expresses its sincerest sympathy with the miners now on strike at the Shag Point Colliery, and regrets the course pursued by the owners of the mine in turning women and children out of their houses at this inclement season of tbe year." A subscription raised in the room resulted in £2 9s being collected in aid of those evicted. Messrs Parker and Bidmead, delegates from the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, addressed a large meeting at Waimate on Friday, and were well received by both employers and employed. The Waimate Shearers' and Labourers' Union has now a membership of 325, Auckland, June 5. When the Wainui was leaving for Tonga, the crew were found to be one man short, and a non-union man had to be engaged, as no member of the union could be obtained. The remainder of the crew thereupon objected to work, and a serious difficulty might have arisen had it not been that a union man appeared at the last moment, and was taken for the vacant place. June 6. The Knights of Labour have decided to print a list giving tha names of the early and late closers, and forward them to the various unions. They have also resolved that Mr Joyce bo asked to again introduce his Shop Hours Bill altering the hour of closing to that first proposed — viz., 6 o'clock p.m. on the first five days of the week, and 10 o'clock p.m. on Saturdays and the evenings before holidays, also that a local option clause be added empowering, under suitable provision, trades to shorten the hours for closing on Saturdays, and adopt a half holiday on some evening of the week. June 9. The Master Ironworkers and Farriers' Association have adopted the eight hours system, and have also agreed to a tariff of prices, to come into force on the Ist of July. Timaru, June 10. A branch of the Shearers and Labourers' Union was formed here last night, and 32 members enrolled. Messrs Parker and Bidmead, delegates from the Christchurch Trades and Labour Council, addressed a large meeting last nieht on the nature and benefits of unionism. They stated as the results of inquiring that wages in tbe bakery trade were worse than in Christchurch : men working from 16 to 19 hours per day for from 17s 6d to 25s per week, and a man working longest only received £2 per week and found. The sweating of girls was also very rife. The mayor, Mr Boss, presided, and expressed sympathy with the objects of the meeting. Votes of thanks were passed to the delegates for the trouble they had taken. THE SHAG POINT DISPUTE. The secretary of the Maritime Council (Mr J. A. Miller) on Friday forwarded a letter to Messrs Glendining and Hazlett, proprietors of the Shag Point coal mine, submitting certain proposals for the settlement of the dispute between them and the miners, and stating that the men were willing to have the proposals submitted to arbitration. It was further intimated that in the erent of the mine being worked as a non-union mine extreme action would be taken at an early date. It was announced on Monday that Messrs Glendining and Hazlett had forwarded a letter to Mr J. A. Millar, in which they ask to be supplied with certain information before finally replying to his communication. AMALGAMATED RAILWAY SERVANTS,' SOCIETY. A special committee meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand, Ofcago branch, was held on Friday evening to receive and scrutinize the ballot papers issued to the members of the branch. The result of the voting was as follows : — For extreme measures, if necessary ... 580 Against extreme measures ... ... 16 Foi federation with the Maritime Council... 604 Against federation with Maritime Council... 1 35 members did not record their votes. There was not a single informal vote recorded. The result of the voting of the Canterbury branch on the question of joining the Maritime Council was as follows : — For, 861 ; against, 4 ; informal, 1. A DIFFICULTY ABOUT STEVEDORES, Hobakt, June 6. When the Waihora arrived here the labourers refused to discharge her, owing to a dispute with a stevedore, who was accused of favouring certain members of the union. The objectionable stevedore having been removed, the vessel was discharged, but tho difficulty has only been temporarily got over, and further trouble is anticipated. A WHARF 1 LABOURERS' STRIKE. (Pek Press Association.^ Sydney, June 9. The long pending dispute between the Wharf Labourers' Union and employers of wharf labour, represented by the Employers' Union and the steam owners of Australasia has reached an acute stage. Several conferences have taken place between the masters and men at which mutual concessions were made with regard to the rules drafted by the labourers ; but still, however, there were certain points on which the masters could not with dignity give way. The Trades' Council mediated in the matter, but was not snccessful in making a satisfactory arrangement. A general meeting of merchants and traders will shortly be held to consider the whole difficulty, which will probably result in the suspension of the shipping trade of Sydney. June 10 The difficulty between the Seamen's Union and the wharf labourers has been settled.

The bridge over Buller river at Lyell is costing much more than was expected. A large sutn extra was put on the Estimates lait year, and it is now found that at least £3000 more will be required. It has been finally decided to appeal to the Privy Council in the now famous case Poaka v. Ward, and the necessary security has been given. The decision of the Appeal Court in this trial had the effect of upsetting a large number of Native titles in tho North Island, and it was through it that Parliament passed an act creating the position of Native Land Commissioner filled by Mr Edwards,