LABOUR ITEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11585, 22 October 1901, Page 2

LABOUR ITEMS

TROUBLE AMONG THE FRENCH.

MINERS.

United Tress Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received 8.52 a.m., October 21st. PARIS, October 20.

M. Waldeck Rousseau informed the Miners' Federation that a minimum wago is only fixable by interested parties. The. Chamber of Deputies would consider the question of workmen's pensions as an administrative matter. An inquiry would be opened in regard to the question of eight hours work a day. M. Rousseau is keeping four army corpsin readiness in the event of disturbances following, the Miners' Federation having, threatened a general strike on, November Ist. The colliery-owners are fortifying the mines.

Per Press Association, I THE CONCILIATION BOARD. NELSON, October 21.. The Collingwood Miners' and Labourers' Union having filed a plaint aguinst the Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing Company, limited, demanding a rise of miners' wages from 8s to 10s per day, the ConciliationBoard proceeded to Collingwood, and after taking evidence and viewing the works, have filed an award in which they recommend that the miners wages be increased from 8s to 8s 6d per day during the ensuing twelve months, commencing on the Ist December. The Board expressed the opinion that 9s a clay, the minimum rate on the West Coast, is not excessive for sluicing work, but considering the adverse circumstances under which the company has been struggling for the last nine years, coupled with the fact that tho miners employed by the company have lessbroken time than the other sluiccrs in the district, the miners should accept the increased rate.