INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3557, 16 May 1922, Page 44

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

SHEARERS AND SHED HANDS. WELLINGTON, May 13. An industrial dispute is now pending affecting the shearers Snd shed hands of the dominion. The New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation has written to the New Zealand W orkers’ Union, of which the shearers are membem, asking that a dominion conference be arranged with a view to reaching an agreement for the new award for shearers and shed hands. It is suggested that the conference should be held at as early a date as possible Mr O. Graynler, secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, has replied stating that he is in favour of a dominion conference, and that lie will place the whole question before the different shearers’ unions. It is likely that the conference will be held at Wellington in June. Actually what wages and conditions the sheepowners propose should be adopted have not'been disclosed. WAGES REDUCTION. WELLINGTON, May 13. Labour has now made its protest against the Arbitration Court’s order reducing wages, and if an appeal against the decision is not granted, it means looking forward to retail prices being lowered to the extent of the wages decrease. ’There is a good deal of discussion going on in Trade Union circles on this aspect of the matter. While acknowledgment is given to the fact that some manufacturing interests intend to make reductions in their price lists, this is not considered to be sufficient. W'hat labour people are looking forward to is a reduction in the prices of 'oodstuffs, and a suggestion is made that the Government should ask the Board of Trade to inquire whether the cost of food is being reduced in proportion to the drop in the earnings ordered by (he Arbitration Court. It is possible that representations may be made' to the Government to have an inquiry ordered.