TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1906, 21 August 1890, Page 14

TRADES AND LABOUR.

A deputation from the Walton branch of the Miners and Labourers' Union waited on the miners at work at the Mosgiel colliery, and having explained the rules and other matters, they unanimously agreed to attend the next meeting and enrol themselves as members of the branch, and tendered a vote of thanks to the deputation. The deputation then waited upon those working in Messrs Christie Brothers' Saddle Hill colliery, and the men promised to give the question of joining the union careful consideration and to forward a reply at an early date. It appears from the Invercargill papers that there was some dispute with reference to loading the s.s. Taieri at the Bluff. Quick despatch being required, the railway authorities ordered the permanent way gang between the Bluff and Greenhills to assist on the ground that it would have been impossible to obtain the labour required in the time at th«ir disposal. The wharf labourers at the Bluff assert, however, that the necessary hands could have been easily obtained. Between 1000 and 1200 additional signatures to the petition in favour of the labour bills now before Parliament were despatched from Christohurch to Wellington on Saturday. Thia makes a total of 2000 signing the petition. A petition in favour of the labour bills now before Parliament, and especially in support of the Factories and Shops Bill, which will be presented to Parliament by Mr H. S. FJBb, and which has been lately set on foot by the Trades and Labour Council, assisted by the Shop Assistants' Union, now contains 1814 signatures. The petition has been in circulation only three days. Wellington, August 14. Thirty applications were received for the secretaryship of the Federated Trades Council at a salary of £150 per annum. The contest really lay between Mr D. P. Fisher, who haa hern acting as secretary for some time, and Mr Graham, president, of the council. Great interest was evinced in the election, which Mr Fisher secured by the narrow margin of two votes. Apropos of the labour movement in the railway service aud the recent agreement as to adopting the nine hours rule, the department contemplate certain rearrangements which will enable the working expenses to be reduced instead of their being increased by the concession.. At present three engines are required for each' day's express trains between Christchurch and Dunedin. By meanß of the triangle now under construction at Oamaru the present change of engines will be avoided, and the same engine will run right through each way between Christchurch and Dunedin. Thus only two men will be needed instead of three. Similar changes have already been made on the main line from Wellington northward, one engine running all the way to Palmerston instead of a change being made midway, as at present. By this plan, which is being adopted wherever practicable, the anticipated loss from adopting nine hours a day will in many cases be converted into a saving. August 15. Notice has been given to the employes of the Petone Woollen Mills that in all probability reductions will shortly be made owing to 5 scarcity of orders. Auckland, August 18. Ths milk suppliers of Auckland have formed an association with tbe objeot of increasing the prioe of milk to 6d per gallon, or 6£d includingcarriage.