INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 84, 28 March 1908, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. An order lias been made by the Arbitration Court to remedy "an obvious defed' in the cooks' nnd waiters' award, dated l'Uli December. which does not fix the wages of waiters after the third in hotels where more than three waiters are employed. For the purpose of remedying the defect, the Court ordered that in clause 1. under the heading of •'waiters," the words "third £1 7s (id'' should be struck out, and tho following words substituted: '-Third and others,tl 7s lid.''

The dispute between the Wellington c Electric il Workers' Industrial Union 'J and the employers has been amicably ** settled, according to Mr. M. J. Rrardon, . who appeared for the Union. Tho wages of competent electrical litters have been fixed at la (id per hour, and the miniVimni rate of wages for electrical men 1 shall be Is -id per hour. Forty-six 1 bonis shall complete a week's work. When workers are engaged on country work suitable lodging to be provided for them when so employed., Tho proportion of assistants is iixed as one to every .journeyman. For the first year assistants' are to receive 7s per week, 12s per week for the second year, and

20s per week for the third year. Assistants who have worked at the trade for a period of three years may be employed as improvers at not less than lid per hour for the first twelve months, and Is per hour for a further period nl twelve months. No improver shall be employed where less than two journeymen are employed. Preference of employment is granted to unionists. Tools are to be provided by employers. Any employee while working at installing or overhauling store batteries shall be paid Is per dozen, in addition to the minimum wage.

The Arbitration Court again consider- I ed' the drivers' dispute this afternoon. • Mr. Scott, on behalf of the employers, 1 stated that the parties had arrived at an amicable settlement with regard to the whole of the clauses of the agreement, with the exception of clause 2, which deals with the wages. This clause was to be left to the Court without any comment. Mr. Scott explained to a reporter that the terms of the agreement were on the lines of the present award. There was very little alteration. Overtime was increased to Is 3d all round. Tile hours were the same and the conditions the same.

Judgment was given by tile Arbitration Court in the case, Whiteford v. the King. The claimant was the widow of Ciiarles Whiteford, who died in September last while boring a hole in a telegraph pole at Kilbirnie. The point at issue was whether deceased died by accident or from liaUu'al causes. The Court held that death was tho result o/ an accident, and awarded the claimant £374, with £IOO 10s costs. The Court heard the dispute between the Wellington Gas Stokers' and Cokers' Union and the Wellington Gas Company. The principal claims of the Union were that a full week's work shall consist of seven .shifts of S hours per shift; the working hours shall be for each shift, morning ."> to 1, afternoon 1 till !>, night !l till 5 o'clock: the minimum rate of wages, leading stokers 12s per shift, ordinary stokers 1(1* per shift, work done on specified holidays and Sundays to be paid for at the rate of double time. Preference was also claimed, provided there are members of the union equally conpctent as non-menibers to perform the work required to be done, and ready and willing to undertake it. Mr. Birch, manager of the Gas Company, said the main contention was that in regard to specifying the hours at which to work. This was ail inclination to interfere with the management of the company, for circumstances might arise which would necessitate the hours being made different. The rate of wages

asked was strongly objected to. Dr. A. E. So listens said that at the request of the union he had examined the Gas Company's works last Thursday, and the conditions under which the men worked. The place was very hot and naturally very dirty, w'ith a great many fumes of noxious gases arising. Working under such conditions was unhealthy, and would have a tendency to bronchitis Mr. lteavdon: Then your examination of the works showed you that employment there is more unhealthy than the average?—I should say that without any hesitation whatever. It is classed amongst the unhealthy occupations, such as coal mining. the Court reserved its decision,