LABOUR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3472, 29 July 1899, Page 1

LABOUR.

New York, July 25. Tho Cleveland rioters are well armed, and threaten to slaughter the non-unionists who attempt to tqke their places. The Columbus Regiment and a Gatling gun have been summoned to town. The police are powerless to quell the outbreak. More tram cars have been dynamited. A Catholic priest defied 2000 rioters in order to protect tho police. Many women headed the attacks on the military and police. July 2(1. Another tram car has been dynamited at Cleveland. The ears have now been equipped with revoviug brooms to sweep explosives from the rails. The soldiers have been ordered to use their bayonets if attacked by tho strikers.

CIIRXSTOiIUROII, July 27. The Conciliation Board met to-day to consider tho dispute in the building trade. Present —Messrs A. IT. Turnbull (chairman), Gapos, Williams, Taylor, and Palmer. Messrs Greig and England represented tho Builders’ aud Contractors’ Association ; Mr GAY. Clark tho Amalgamated Society of Carpenters aud Joiners; Mr H. Lane the Canterbury Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Association, The object of tho sitting was to determine what should be done on tho expiry of tho last award, as the employers had refused to enter into the now agreement proposed by the Unions. On behalf of tho Unions Mr Clark contended that Is -Id per hour was tho wage paid in Wellington and was justified by tho state of the demand for aud tho supply of work. Mr England contended that tho rise in wages asked for was not justified by tho rents charged nor by the necessaries of life, which were cheaper now than two years ago. In Auckland 0s Id per day was paid ; ' iu Wellington 11s, and in Canterbury and down to Southland 10s per day, so that with the exception of Wellington tho carpenters of Canterbury earned the highest wages in Now Zealand. The prices of material had increased, and ho did not think it would be advantageous to raise wages, lie objected to tin classification of men by the societies, aud to part of tho rule which referred to the employment of inferior men. Messrs England aud Greig suggested that on country jobs men should be allowed an extra hour. The Union asked that the town bolt be the .walking limit, and 20 per cent, ho added to travelling expenses. Mr England objected to rule 5 which gave preference to unionists. Rule 7 provided that all wages must he paid weekly and iu cash, and that all waiting and walking time must be paid for. Mr England objected to tho weekly wage as being less convenient than fortnightly pay, which at present obtains. Mr Lane pointed out that tho weekly cash payment of wages was already provided for by the Workman’s Wages Act, 1893. The builders said that they had plenty of applicants for employment ; that contracts were now taken at lower rates than two years ago ; that compo'itiou was keener ; that apprentices were not worth the trouble of teaching ; that lOsper day was high enough for a carpenter’s wage, and objecting to preference being given to unionists. Tho Board adjourned till Monday.