LABOUR ITEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3550, 24 April 1901, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS

Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, April 23. The Waihi Board of Conciliation continued the hearing of the mining dispute today. Voluminous evidence was taken from two witnesses in connection with their work at tie mine. Robert Loane said that the wage of 9s for a carpenter was not a living wage, and that he could not do with less than lGs 6d. John Shaw held that miners ought to get a rise of wages as other men were getting a rise all over the colony. Mr Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Company, asked by Mr Drumm whether he did not dismiss Mr Molloy and other men because of the claim of the union, said that there might be penalties attached to answering and he therefore declined to reply. He would not state the exact reason for Molloy s dismissal, nor state what instruction he trave the officials on the subject. The chairman said that he would say in the morning whether or not Mr Barry would have to reply to the question.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 23.

The Arbitration Court opened this morning, and is dealing with a case brought by the Typographical Union against the proprietors of a number of country papers. The Union states that there has been, too much employment of boy and girl labour. .. The Arbitration Court sat to-day when the cases brought by the Typographical Union against the country newspapers in respect to wages, hours, and proportion of apprentices was taken. The hearing had not concluded when the Court adjourned for the day. The Hon. J. M. Twomey, M.L.C., proprietor of the " Temuka Leader," was cited in connection with the dispute and was present. A man named James A. Boulter, employed bv him, was called by the Union but did not appear. The Union delegates put in letters from Boulter, one of which stated that he could not attend the Court because Mr Twomey had said that he could not spare him, and adding that Mr Twomey had said that he would be responsible for the fine. Mr Justice Cooper, before the luncheon adjournment, said that he would deal with the matter when the Court resumed in the afternoon. When His Honour took his seat le asked Mr Twomey to stand up. On Mr Twomey rising His Honour addressing him said that the question of witnesses' attendance could not be dealt with as it had been. There had been a technical mistake in serving the summons, in that it had been sent by registered letter instead of by personal service. Mr Twomey in his action had run '.considerable risk as the provisions of the Criminal Code Act made it a criminal ■offence for any person to endeavour to~preTOnt the attendance of a witness or to intimidate him. He would point out to Mr Twomey, as representing the employers, fett if the Court allowed a case like this to pass by without a strong expression of opinion the result might be extremely prejudicial to the interests of both employers and men. It was fortunate for both Mr Boulter and Mr Twomey that owing to the subpoena not having been properly served, witness technically had not been sum-, moned and the Court had no power to punish. The Court would direct that the summons be issued and served properly, and if Mr Boulter was not in attendance on Friday morning he would be dealt with, and if it was proved that his non-attendance was owing to action on Mr Twomey's part the matter would be handed over to the Crown Prosecutor who would be asked to deal with Mr Twomey. Mr Twomey said that, he desired to apologise for what he had done. ! His Honour said that they would talk about that nest morning. His Honour: " A person in your position has no right to be ignorant in these matters." Mr Twomey said that he had never asked the man not to attend. It was his foreman who had spoken to the man. He only desired to tender his humblest apology, and to say that he would never do it again. Sis Honour said Mr Twomey's apology would be accepted, but he would like to Kay that the Court did not care whether the man ?ras an employer or a worker; whether he was in a high position or a low one. The Court-x-ould deal to the.fullest extent in its power (with him if he attempted to intimidate » «'3tness.

DUNEDIN, April ,23. A Draper*' Assistants' Union'havingbeen formed, a statement of tlie conditions of employment and wages lias been submitted to the emplflysrs. ( '