TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 30

TRADES AND LABOUR.

London, December 14. Tbe Seamen's and Firemen's Union have dissolved through want of funds. Washington, December 15.

Debs, the leader of the late railway strike, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for defying the judge's injunction in connection with that strike. Adelaide, December 12.

The committee tet up to inquire into the unemployed difficulty have suomitttd their final report, in which is enumerated various causes for the existing depression, j and certain remedies are suggested. The more practical amongst the latter are liberal pastoral legislation, encouragement of rural industries, moderate expenditure in a«»lsting mining, encouragnment of small holdings, a moderate public works policy, and just labour legislation in order to relieve immediate distress. They recommend the Government to give temporary relief in return for the adequate amount of reproductive labour, and the establishment of laJbour bureaus throughout the colony. In conclusion, the committee" consider the true remedy of the unemployed question will be found in better prices and sound legislation.

Sydney, December 12.

The miners working at the Newcastle Mining Company's pits have rejected the proposal for a reduction in the hewing rate to 2s lOd. This decision on the part of the men compels the directors of the company to refuse a contract they had secured for the supply of between 60,000 and 100,000 tons of coal at 7s 2d.

« December 13.

The Wallsend miners have resolved to resist the proposed reduction in the hewing rate.

The Lambton and Back Creek collieries have virtually insisted on a reduction in the hewing rate.

Gisborne, December 13

An interesting case, brought under the Contractors and Workmen's Lien Act, was heard at the Magistrate's Court One Mackrell took a contract to build shops for James Erskine and became bankrupt, his sureties (H*ll and Clayton) taking up the work and completing it Mackrcll obtained timber from Kennedy and Evans, timber merchants, and did not pay them. Urjon his failure they intimated to the

sureties and to Erskine that they would claim a lien of £108 on the work. This notice was ignored, anil the sureties on the completion of the work were paid the full amount of the contract. Kennedy and Evans then sued Erskiue, Hall, and*CUyton for £108. It was arguod by MesFrs Rtes and Chri>-p (for plaintiffs) that the supply of material, which also included carting, came under the defioifcion of sub-coutractor in the interpretation olau9e of the act. Rleßsrs De Liutour and Nolan (for defendants) contended that the act made no provision to cover losses by persons not being labourers on the work, though they supplied material. PUintiftV remrdy, they said, was only *g*inst Maokrell's estate m bankruptcy. Mr Booth, S M., held that plaintiff i could not be construed as sub-coutractors in the meaning of the act, and therefore must be nonsuited.

ReFerring to the resolution of the Co-opera-tive Bootmakers' Union ef Christcburch, Mr Tiegear stated that the union has not had a correct version of his remarks. He has not stated to any person that no depression exists in the South Island, but that the general labour market is in an improving position, and far better than it was a few months ago. This is certain, as shearing, farm work, &c, has absorbed much of the unskilled labour. Great care must be taken by the general public in receiving utatementß about large bodies of unemployed pers-ms in certain localities, &o. In one case Mr Tregear personally investigated, out of 100 names submitted as of really destitute and deserving persons, the assistance of the local police enabled more than 50 per cent, of the names to be struck off as those of criminals, habitual drunkards, fee., the usual class found in every centre of population. Nevertheless there are many genuine cases of destitution and of men out of work deserving all true sympathy, and this especially in skilled trades.