LABOUR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2887, 12 December 1898, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS.

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received December 10th, 9.55 a.m. Sydney, December 10. The coal lumpers and employers have arranged a conference. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 10. At the Conciliation Board the following recommendations re the linotype dispute were received (it being understood that the parties would meet privately m conference and would communicate with other centres as to the position and attend a meeting of the Board on the 20th inst.) :— That consideration of the matters m dispute be adjourned for 12 months from January ; that m the meantime the hours of work be for machine operators 45 hours per week for day haads, 42 hours for night hands, work m excess to be paid at one and a third. The wages to be paid to operators are to be ascertained as follows—the average of the aggregate earnings of men now working m both offices for three months ending October 31st to be the rate. Rule 1a of general conditions as agreed to at the conference is to be m force during 12 months. The rule reads — Employment of operators on piecework to be at the option of the employer. The following rates of speed are to be recognised as fair standards of efficiency — 5000 per hour within 6 months from the time of starting, 6000 m 8 months, 6500 m Hi months, and 7000 m 15 months.