TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 14

TRADES AND LABOUR.

THE LOCK-OUT OF LUMPERS. LONDON, March 24. Arbitration has begun in connection with /he Marseilles strike. PARIS, March 22. Many collisions have occurred between the military and the strikers at Marseilles, and the situation has become much, graver. It is feared that a cessation of all work is imminent. - - SYDNEY, March 19. ■ So far there has been no delay in the shipping through the lock-out. The crews of many of the large steamers are engaged in coalmg. There is little likelihood of the other unions becoming involved. March 20. Woik on the Chinese steamers is stopped owing to the coal-owners refusing to supply coal if the coal lumpers are employed to carry it. March 25. ( The State Minister of Labour is taking steps to arrange a conlcreuce belA\ccu tli©

coal lumpers and the colliery owners, with a view to compromising the difficulty. AUCKLAND, March 20. For some time dissatipfaction has been felt at the hours of operative bricklayers. The Conciliation Board reduced the hours of carpenters from 47 to 44- per week, but bricklayers continued to work 47 hours, and were paid as for 48 at Is 4^d per hour. Recently the bricklayers demanded an increase in wages to Is 6d per hour, working the same number of hours per week. To this the Master Builders' Union refused to agree, but proposed to raise the wages to Is 6d per hour, at the same time reducing the hours to 44 per week. At a meeting of operative bricklayers, there being no bricklayers' union, it was decided to ac- [ qept the terms of the master builders. This means that bricklayers \vill. receive the same weekly wages as heretofore^ but 'will* work three houra less per t\eek. Considerable discontent prevails among, the messengers in Government Buildings, Wellington, as to the amoimt of wage?, £2 2s per week, which they receive. The Premier is to "be 'waited on to see if something can be done to improve their position. A new Trades' Association in Timaru has adopted rules based on those of the Dunedin Retailers' Association. About 60 traders haie joined so far. The Auckland Trades aai L&bous Qoun-

cil have passed a resolution asking the Labour Conference to appoint a deputation to wait on the Minister of Railways to urge preference of employment to unionists. This step is taken in view of the action by the Minister of Works in New South Wales.

The Tuapeka Times understands that the prices to be given for rabbits this season are 4d per pair on the ground and 4^d at the depots at the Lawrence railway station. ■ There is some mystery (says the Hot Lakes Chronicle) in connection with the three days.' visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall to ftotorua, which is favourably explained by the whisper among the Native chiefs that, on the occasion of the visit, certain honours are .to be conferred on members of ..the Ministry and others who have assisted in any "way in sending the New Zealand troop 3to South Africa. All these honours are to be conferred during the visit to Rororua, and it Is hinted that the Hon. J. . Carroll will be one of the recipients. If this is the ease, it is to be hoped tliat others will not be overlooked, as it was from the Arawa chiefs that the first offer of troops was made -immediately after th-* Jamieson raid, when it was probable there would be trouble over the Emperor of Germany's telegram. The reply from Lord Onflow on that occasion eulogised the loyalty of the Arawas, and thanked them for their offer of service, but regretted that for political reasons their offer could not be accented.