WORLD OF LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 17627, 16 April 1914, Page 7

WORLD OF LABOUR

DOMINION BOOT INDUSTRY. (Per United Press. Association). WELLINGTON, April 15. Separate conferences representing the employees and the employers In the boot trade of Uie Dominion, were held in Wellington this morning for the purpose of considering the state of the in-dustry-and what steps should be takrm to place it pn a bettor footing. ’The employers mfet at the Trades! Hall, both conferences being conducted In private. In the afternoon a joint conference, representing -both sides, held at the Employers’ Federation rooms, the proceedings also being held in camera. WHARF LABOURERS' CONDITION. NEW SYSTEM OUTLINED. WELLINGTON, April 15. Some important proposals relating to wharf labour have been drawn up fey the executive of the Wharf Labourers' Union for consideration of tlte shipowners. Tlte first proposal (dealing with clause 2 of the agreement), is that instead of being paid .'ld an hour extra for eight hours, only leading hands should be paid that amount extra for all hours worked. Secondly, it is proposed to amend clause 8 in order to make it possible for men to work longer than five hours at a stretch, so that instead of leaving off at 5 o’clock, for instance. they may, by mutual agreement with the employers, work an hour or so later, instead of having to come back after ten. The third clause deals with the hours of engagement. The present agreement specifies the following hours: First call, 7.J0 a.m. to 1 I a.m.; second call, 1 p.m. to 1 .BO p.m.; third call. "J’o to 4.J0 run.; Saturdays. 7.J0 a.m. to !LJO a.m. and 10.JO a.m. to noon. The executive proposes to amend these hours us follow: First call, 7.15 a.m. to 10 a.m.; second call. 1 to J p.m: Saturdays, 7.45 a.m. to 10 a.m. An amendment to clause 20 (sub-clause b), is also sought, to provide that two men be allotted to it double <lump of wool instead of one man, as at present. Another recommendation is that all men employed In passing frozen moat to holds from the heads of shoots be paid at freezing rates (Is !)d, instead of Is 5d per hour). A sixth recommendation reads that a better method of paying wages to casual employees be adopted by the employers, as at present time the employes have to wait to long to take their turn when waiting to he held. it is further suggested that no employee should be called upon to wait more titan a quarter of an hour for his pay at the stated time of paying, unless be is paid at under rates for tlte tune he loses.