WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18622, 21 August 1919, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE. COMPLETE DEADLOCK REACHED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) .SYDNEY, August 20. A complete deadlock has been reached in regard to the seamen’s strike. The seamen on deep sea vessels at a meeting decided to refuse to work in the event of any deep sea vessel being used in inter-State trade. i MEN OBJECT TO ARBITRATION COURT. SYDNEY, August 20. The latest telegram from Senator Millen states that the Government is not favourable to the appointment of an outside arbitrator to settle any points not disposed of at a round-table conference. These questions must be referred to the Arbitration Court. The men refuse stating that it is an attempt on the Government’s part to drive them into the Arbitration Court. They also resent the action of the Seamen’s Union officials in New Zealand providing a crew to enable the Prinzessin to compete in the Australian inter-State trade.

THE POSITION IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, August 20. Received August 20, 11.5 p.m. A prolonged and rowdy meeting of seamen adjourned aftel hearing the delegate from Melbourne regarding the Government’s terms. Although the proposals were not altered, it is understood that the information in the possession of the delegates will possibly put the position in a new light. No decision, however, was reached. THE GOVERNMENTS OFFER. SYDNEY, August 20. Received August 21, 1.20 a.m. Senator Millen’s latest proposal, submitted to to-day’s meeting, states that the matters regarding which an agreement is not reached at the conference may, if the Union desires, be taken to the Arbitration Court for adjudication, otherwise such matters shall be deemed to have been waived. It is understood that this was meant to convey that the conference’s decision would he final, if the men so desired, The delegates recommend the men to accept the offer, but after a resolution and contra-resolution had been carried, the meeting adjourned until to-morrow. A SETTLEMENT EXPECTED. MELBOURNE, August 20. Received August 20, 10.15 p.m. In the Federal House the Hon. L. E. Groom announced that he expected a settlement of the strike to-day. USE OF OVERSEAS VESSELS. MELBOURNE, August 20. Received August 20, 11.5 p.m. Questioned regarding the oversea vessels carrying inter-State cargo, the Controller of Shipping states that such action was only taken in a few instances in order to meet the public demand for commodities. f i. TRANSPORTATION STRIKES. NEW YORK TROUBLE SETTLED. NEW YORK, August 19. The transportation strike has been settled after forty-eight hours serious congestion of traffic. Employees underground receive a twenty-five per cent, increase in pay.

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. THE HUNTLY TROUBLE. SERIOUS EFFECT OF STOPPAGE. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND, August 20. Information from Huntly to-tlay shows that the Taupiri Colliery Company’s extended mine is still idle, the men declining to resume work until the opinion of the Government expert is obtained in regard to the safety of die mine. So far as can be ascertained, there appears to be no development of what the men describe as ereep. Statements have been issued by the company and the men dealing with the question of danger and the position now is that the men are requiring a conference with the management after the expert opinion of the Government official is obtained. The company in its statement said that it considered that the mine was quite safe and thought that work should be resumed immediately. The effect of the stoppage upon the coal position locally is serious, inasmuch as the extended mine had an output of between 800 and 900 tons daily and in addition to supplying household requirements, the coal from the mine was largely used for steam purposes. The largest quantity went to the Railway Department, which had requisitioned the company to supply every available ton of coal. The company had endeavoured to do so and the quantity to be supplied this, year would probably amount to 40,000 tons. For the past two months the company had been supplying the Railway Department with over 800 tons of coal a week, most of which came •from the extended mine.

SHEARERS’ CONDITIONS. CASE IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, August 20. Before the Conciliation Council, the dispute between the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union and the Canterbury Shearers’ Union was heard. The dispute was rather unusual in that the case was brought by the employers and not by the workers. The employers’ main proposals were:—Hours of work—s a.m. to 5 p.m., shearing to stop at 4 p.m. on Saturdays; rates of pay—2s/per 100, with rations, in addition to a bonus of 5/- per 100, in cases where shearers found their own rations an extra 4/- per 100 was to be paid; the rate for stud sheep to be settled by agreement*; the rate for shearing hogget rams to be rate and ahalf and for other rams double rates; rates for shed bands, prcssers and rollers 47/6 per week, all other hands 45/-; cooks 65/-, cooks’ assistants 45/-, in addition to a bonus of 10/- to all weekly hands; pressers and rollers when not employed by the week shall be paid 1/5 per hour and other shed hands 1/4 an hour in addition to a bonus of 3d per hour; where workers provide their own rations an extra 15/- per week shall be paid. The workers asked for 32/6 per 100, with rations and double rates for shearing rams, stags, and double fleeced sheep. Five pounds per week was asked for rollers and £4 for other shed hands, cooks £6 to £B, and cooks’ assistants £5 10/-.

After consideration a flat rate of 30/- per hundred was agreed to, but no settlement was reached regarding the payment of shed hands and cooks’ hours, the rates for doubled fleeced sheep, dagging, fares, learners’ waiting time, crutching, or the employment of a hutkeeper. Many other clauses were agreed to, among them those relating to methods of payment of workers, control of sheds, free grazing, and contract work. The employers also undertook to import £3OO worth of hand shears and sell them at cost through the union. The clauses on which no agreement was reached were referred to the Arbitration Court.