LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13807, 19 January 1909, Page 5

LABOUR.

GERMAN CONCILIATION BOARDS. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright BERLIN, Jan. 17. The Reichstag is debating a Bill to create Conciliation Boards representing employers and workmen lor the settlement of industrial disputes. OBJECTION BY UNIONISTS. Per Press AUCKLAND, Jan. 18. A meeting of Unionists passed the following resolution —"This mass meeting of Auckland Unionists protests against the appointment of Mr Harle Giles as a Commissioner of Conciliation and pledges itself to refuse to-take any case before the Conciliation Council for any other purpose than to have it referred direct to the Court of Arbitration. For various reasons, Mr Giles is totally lacking in experience in industrial disputes or conditions. Although he will have ,-jio vote, , yet as adviser to the parties i in the dispute lie would be useless, if not dangerous, for anv eliauce ot successful Avoiding of the' Act. It is a primary factor that the Commissioner should have the confidence of employers and, emploj ees which we hold Mr Giles -does not possess.- This meeting representing all unions would respectively . urge upon the Government to recionsider the appointment."

WELLINGTON, Jan- 18. There is (says the Labour Journal for January) practically, little or no demand locally for unskilled labour, but the call for experienced farm workers, milkers and ploughmen in the country at present exceeds the supply. In many cases men used to tins class of work decline to take it '.up owing to the long liours worked. No difficulty has he en experienced in placing suitable men on road and railway. works, and now that the harvest is about to start tliere should be no lack of employment for those willing to go -into the country. A large number of new. arrivals applied for work and: the majority were assisted to work in different parts of the Dominion. During the . jjeriod ■ just ended the Department has 'found employment for 45 married and 149 single men with 106 dependents, on private and..public works. The majority of those engaged were seiit to private emplovment. :In addition seven wives with 15 children were sent to join their husbands on : the co-operative works. ' i