TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 64

TRADES AND LABOUR.

NEW YORK, June 29.

The American Steel Corporation are raising the wages of 100,000 employees 10 per cent., at an annual cost of 4,000,000d01.

MELBOURNE, June 27.

The Conference of the Pastoralists' Association and the Australasian Workers' Union have arrived at a compromise. Shearing rates have been fixed at lGs per hundred and found, or 18s. 6d if shearers find themselves. Shed hands to receive 6s a day and found, or 8s a day and find themselves.

SYDNEY, June 24.

The Inter-State Conference between the steamship owners and the Seamen's Union has resulted in an agreement whereby the present l'atos of pay will remain in force till the end of January next. The owners held that trade had not improved since the last conference, and that wages should be reduced, but agreed not to insist on *a reduction ill the hope that with a final settlement of the tariff trade *vill return to normal condition. The seamen, on their parr, hare agreed, if there is no improvement when the agreement ends, to accept a reduction of at least 10s a month without further question.

June 30.

On July 1 eight hours co*ne into operation with the tramway and railway working staffs at a cost of £60.000 p»r annum. The commissioners are strongly opposed to the principle, and the cost;' will be bonie by the general taxpayer instead of coming from the railway revenue.

TOWNSVILLE, Juno 24.

Strike affairs are unchanged. Tho steamers are getting away with but little delay.

The waterside workers are waiting instructions from headquarters in Melbourne.

June 25.

•Tim strike has ended, and the men have resumed work on the old terms. The shippers reserve the right to employ any men they choose, but all striken will be rein-stated.

Thp rates of wa^es for seamen and firemen in Australia are 10s per month higher than those at present prevailing in New Zealand, but this is ceily a tentative arrangement, liable to bo changed at the end of six months.