TRADE AND LABOUR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6244, 17 June 1890, Page 3

TRADE AND LABOUR.

THE RAILWAY CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph.) WELLINGTON, June 17. The Railway Conference resumed this morning on the hours of labor question. Mr Maxwell put several instances before the delegates, and asked bow they would be treated. Mr Hoban replied that the cases cited were exceptions, and that the Executive were alive to the fact that mutual concessions would have to be made. On the labor question the Executive were arguing on broad principles. The example of the engine driver who was away from homo 13A hours per day, out of which term ho was “ standing ” six hours, was taken.

Mr Owen said the society did not wish anything unreasonable, but what they proposed to do was this : After a man’s 48 hours for the week were finished to pay him overtime for the six hours required to make the four clear days ; then to iiare him relieved by another man, or in other words institute a “ throe-leg " service. Mr Hohan, in reply to Mr MoKerrow, said emphatically that the Executive desired the driver always to be paid for the time he is booked off. The next subject touched on was the piece system, the delegates pointing out many injustices arising from the system. The men were unanimously agreed that the system was bad, as it was an ‘infallible means of reducing the price of labour. Wherever it had been introduced wages had gone down. The Executive asked that it be abolished altogether. Mr MoKerrow admitted that there was a great deal of truth in what bad been said, but if the system were done away with, there might be tendency on the part of men to drop down to “ Government stroke.” THE TRAMWAYS. Dr Grace has replied to the Trades and Labour Council to the effect that the Company have carried out in good faith the recommendations agreed upon at the Conference on 31et May, and be holds the Council to that undertaking, which he states was deliberately entered into and freely published. The undertaking in question was that the Company wore to have three months to improve the traffic before boirig called on to make increases to the emoluments of the employees. The Company, he adds, will be quite willing to improve the position and emoluments of employment at the expiration of three months or sooner if the traffic warrants it. The Council consider the matter to-night.