LABOUR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 7 May 1901, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 6. The conference between the buildingtrade labourers and employers settled all but( two of the points at issue before the Conciliation Board, namely, an extra halfhour at ordinary time after 5 p.m. (the Union agrees to one or working on a a job before 8 a.m.), and rate of pay. The Union agreed at the conference to reduce the demand as to wages- to Is per hour, but the employers will not go further than Is Id. ' These points both parties have left to the Board. The hearing of the bookbinders' dispute commenced before the Conciliation Board to-day. The claim is for 44 hours per week and £3 3s as wages. THE ARBITRATION COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. Legal argument was heard before Mr Justice Ceoper in the Arbitration Court this morning, concerning the jurisdiction -of the Court- over hairdressers' assistants. Decision was reserved.

The taking of evidence in the iron-mould-ers' dispute was" concluded at the Arbitration Court to-day. Mr Beaven, of Andrews and Beaven, agricultural implement makers, stated that if the local price of castings was raised on account of higher wages given to the men, he would either have to cease making certain implements or import them. He said that his business was suffering greatly by' American importations, he having been compelled to stop the manufacturing -of one line, as the imported article was cheaper. This dispute will be closed in the morning. The butchers' dispute will be called next.