SAWMILL WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 20016, 2 November 1926, Page 5

SAWMILL WORKERS

THE SOUTHLAND UNION. EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the executive of the Southland Sawmill Workers’ Union was held in th< Labour Hall on Saturday evening last. Present: Mr Chisholm (president), Messrs J. \Lweiler, C. Williams, M. Horan, J. Enright, M. Duffy, C. Fragnell, J. Chalmers, T. Patterson and the secretary (Mr T. O’Byrne). , A communication was received irom me secretary of the Tuatapere sub-committee of the Union stating that at a largelyattended meeting at Tuatapere it was decided to recommend to the executive that bovs be charged half-rate Union fee, and it was decided to refer the matter to the annual meeting for consideration. The secret ary stated that under the present award a boy of 16 years of age was paid 9/- i>er day, which was more than men received when the Union was formed, so boys’ wages have been increased by 300 per cent and the yearly contribution of the Union amounted to less than Id per day. The secretary of the Tuatapere sub-com-mittee also asked the Union to collect from an employer in the Western District arrears of wages owing to a member. —Received, and the secretary instructed to take action in connection with the matter. The secretary of the Tahakopa sub-com-mittee of the Union wrote asking for a list of all delegates in the Gatlins district. The secretary stated that he had supplied the required information and the Tahakopa Committee were doing excellent work on behalf of the members in the Gatlins district.—deceived. Mr Lightfoot, Inspector of Factories, Dunedin, wrote stating that he was making full inquiries into the late payment of wages by a sawmiller in the Catlins district and would advise result later. —Received. A complaint was received that some of the sawmills had worked on Labour Day in agreement with the employees for ordinary rates, and as it was a recognised holiday .a accordance with the award they wished to know if this could be done without committing a breach of the award. The secretary stated that any men working on Labour Day without receiving double-pay were committing a breach of the award and both the men and the employers were liable to a fine if double-time was not paid. After a considerable amount of discussion the secretary • was instructed to make further inquiries into the matter and report result to the next meeting. The secretary reported having successfully negotiated compensation cases on behalf of members amounting to £250. —-Received. The secretary reported that the delegates from the various mills sent in the following amounts during the month —Waihoaka, per <•’. Donaldson, £3 5/-; Orepuki, per John Adamson, £5 15/-; Scott’s Gap, per E. Brown, £4 5/-; Tuatapere, per M. Bennett, -S 7/6; Ermedale, per H. Ward, £3 10/-; Tuatapere, per T. Webb, £l4 2/6; Orepuki, per P. Dwyer, £l2 2/6; Kahuika, per T. Eunard, £5 12/6; Bush Siding, per J. Enright. £9 7/11; Tawanui, per J. Forbes, £6; MacLennan, per T. Pepperell, £l4 7/6; Te Tua. per E. Spencer, £l3 11/3; Haldane, per J. Dwyer, £2 7/6; Papatotara, per J. Carran, £4 15/-; Tahakopa, per J. Clifton, £l5 3/6; Tawanui, per George Bennington, Road, per John McKenzie, £l3; Hokonui, per M. Duffy, £7 10/-; fikeia, per James Chalmers, £3 17/6. Mr Chisholm paid in £3 from the Otapiri mill towards the British Miners’ Fund. —Received with thanks. The secretary furnished the meeting with a list of the names of the members in arrears and he was instructed to place same in the solicitor's hands for the purpose of taking legal action for the recovery of : same. The secretary also reported that he had visited mills in the following districts (a i umber of them on several occasions) rcoit’s Gap, Otautau, Pukemaori, Tuatapere, Papatotara, Waihoaka, Orepuki, Hokonui, Waitane, and thirteen mills in the Catlins District. Twenty-two new members were enrolled and £270 received in members’ i contributions. It was decided to hold the next general meeting on November 27 for the purpose of 1 receiving nominations for office-bearers for j 1927. Accounts amounting to £B5 were passed : for payment.