LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13287, 16 May 1907, Page 5

LABOUR.

WHOLESALE CQNT) EMNATIO N

Copyright—May 16th, 1.10 a.m. HOBART, May 16

The report of the Royal Commission on wages, finds in the millinery, tailoring and clothing trades there is much to condemn. The .hours of waitresses are too long for the remuneration paid. The practice of demanding premiums, also the fact- that too many apprentices are employed in. proportion to the number of journeymen, if condemned, and the Coni.\nissioji severely comments on the wijges paid to labourers by, .the Hobart City Council. '.-.-

THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. /

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, May 15,

Tlia Minister far Labour x informs Mr Hogg, M.H.R., in reference to the Saturday half-holiday, 'that''lie' cannot suspend the Factories Act, but early opportunity will be given members next session to amend the Act, if thought desirable.

A QUESTION OP HOLIDAYS.»

A difficulty has arisen in Christ-church in regard to the celebration of Empire Day. "The awards made hi all the industrial disputes/' says the ".Press," contain a compulsory holiday on June 3rd, the birthday of the Prince of Wales, but no' mention of-Empire Day." Mr P. Keddie, Timaru representative of the Labour Department; told a "Herald" reporter that this was not so, in regard to Canterbury.■■■'.On referring to the records of awards', Mr Keddie found that only one -■ union in Canterbury,, die-South Canterbury Bakers., observed <the Prince of Wales' Birthday as a holiday. Empire Day was specified as a holiday m the awards.''of the Canterbury slaughtermen, slaughtermen's assistants, and tallow and manure, hands.- but no .mention was made of the Prince -of. Wales' birthday. Plumbers, painters, tanners, 'carriers, traction and stationary engine-drivers and fireman, woollen mill employees, cycle, range and metal workers, workers) in sawmills and limber yards and furniture factories all named in their respective awards the holidays to be observed by them, bub none of these lists contained either Empire « Dav or the Prince, of Wales' birthday. As" Empire Day was this year being observed as a public holiday in Timaru instead of the Prince of" Wales' birthday, the bakers "would have to work on that day, and take their holiday on June 3rd, while, the members of the three unions of freezing-works hands would have thenholiday on Empire Day. All other factory hands including those belonging to the eleven unions named above, would have to »o to work on May 24th as on any other day. By the Shops and Offices Act. 1904, a holiday could be observed bv employees affected .by that Act only, oil special occasions, at the request of the Mayor. There was no such -provision in regard to • factory-employees. The Factories Act. 1901, "named Christmas Dav New Year's"' Day, Good Friday. Easter Monday. Labour Day and the birthday of the reigning sovereign as . statutory holidays, arid all workers in factories, who had riot -made provision for other holidays in their recommendations, which subsequent became awards, would have to work on Empire Day and the Prince of Wales' birthday.