LABOUR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 6 May 1901, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 4. Judge Bakhouse, who is acting as a Royal Commissioner for the Government of New South Wales to inquire into the working of the Industrial Arbitration Act in this colony, is in Auckland, and will spend several days here. WAIHI, May 4. At the Conciliation Board, Bainbridge, an engineer, said the rate of pay should be the°same as at Reefton, lis 8d per shift. The Court adjourned till Wednesday, when they meet at the Thames.

WELLINGTON, May 4.

A conference between employers and unionists re building trade labourers was held last night, but proved abortive, and the case again came before the Conciliation Board to-day. The chairman of the Board said the Board interpreted last session's Act as meaning that any recommendation made would be binding only on parties cited and those who voluntarily accepted it, It was only an award of the Arbitration

Court that would operate over the whole of the industrial district. The hearing of the -dispute was then continued.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 4. In the bootmakers' dispute, Mr Justice Cooper informally announced the decision on the three points submitted to the Court, the rough stuff department, the minimum wage, and the hours oil labour. At present in the rough stuff department the Court could only fix the mimimum wage for sole-cutters, but would reserve the power to make a further award. - The Court could not see sufficient reason to alter the hours of labour from 48, as fixed in 1898. The conditions of the trade did not justify any material alteration in wages, and the minimum was fixed at 425. The abolition of piece-work and consequently of the log rendered it necessary for the Court to make provision with regard to service. Men would be required to give and take a week's notice, and to suffer reductions for loss of time caused by their own fault. The award remains in force for two years from June Ist next.