LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13812, 25 January 1909, Page 6

LABOUR.

THRESHERS' UNION NEW DEuIAJMUri. The Waimate workers' (threshing millers') award, made in 1906, expires ax. tne end of this month, and the 'Union has given the mul-wvners' union notice ot its desire to make an. "industrial agreement" to supersede it. A conference was held at Waimate on Iriday evening, between delegates appointed to represent the two unions. The delegates were: For the owners' union: Aiessrs M. Scannell (president) and W. G. Campbell; for the workers' union, Messrs J. Smith (president) and J. Cunningham. By invitation Mr A. Walker presided at the conference. Mr Smith-presented a statement of claims as a basis for the new industrial «. iieenißiii., ami an r-U'at tue empKo. tuv delegates could do was to receive it, and undertake to lay it before thenunion, and this will be done at a meeting to be held next Saturday. The existing award, as aboye-mentioned, expires on the 31st inst., but continues in force until a new one, or an agreement is made. -,.„. The schedule of claims differs considerably from the schedule to the existing award. The following are the chief changes proposed by the Workers' Union: —

Hours of labour—Permission to work one hour by artificial light in cases of emergency, is omitted. • Number of hands. —The award says nothing on this head, except that three bagmen shall be employed. The Union now fiy'lie at el?ver —driver* feeder, three stackmen, three bagmen, strawman, waterman, and in camp one cook; when the straw is stacked two extra men shall be employed, ' and in no case shall a boy ' under 18 be employed. (The award makes the age limit 17.) The award fixes the rates of pay at 12s per 1000 for wheat or barley, and 10s per 1000 for oats or Is per hour when men are paid by the hour. The demand is for Is 3d per hour for the feeder, £2 10s per week for the cook, and Is per hour for the rest, and all " found.' The driver is exempted from this clause. The award provides for payment at the rate of Is per hour to men required to be on duty in shifting the TTiill from camp to camp, but for no payment for shifting from stack to stack. The demand now is for full payment for all hands in shifts from stack to stack, but only for the feeder when shifting from farm to farm. The award provides for a week's notice on either , side, " whenever it is reasonably possible" before determination of employment. The new award says nothing about notice, but that wages shall be paid in full on dismissal or giving up employment. The award provides for food being provided on the co-operative system, the employer to provide galley, utensils and fuel at a charge of 15s a week. The demand requires the employer to provide all food free of cost, "of wholesome nature and of sufficient quantity and properly cooked as may be required." - The award contains two long and four shorter clauses regarding preference to unionists, the first defining what constitutes a unionist; the second requiringHhe union to keep an employment book and specifying how it shall be kept and used. The new claim under this head is brief. "In all cases of employment preference shall be given * to members of the Waimate Workers' Union." One consequent clause forbids an employer to discriminate against any member of the union, to injure the union, or to victimise any member or officer of the union. One new clause reads: "In no case shall any sack when filled at the mill contain "more than 2001b in weight," and another: "No labour employed in tlireshing covered by this agreement shall be done by either piecework or contract."A third new clause is: "In all case 3 shall the tallies be given to the representative of the men when the mill is ; noting from farm to farm, the said tallies T;o be kept separately for the information of the men, and also for the correction of the returns issued by the Agricultural Department."

DEADLOCK AT HUNTLY. Per Press "Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 24. No settlement of the dispute between the Taupiri Coal Company and its employees at Huntly can be attained at any rate until to-morrow morning, when a conference between the Minister for Mines and the directors of the company is to take place. Two union officials have come to Auckland it is understood to- consult a lawyer. Meantime matters at Huntly remain uni iiaiige'l. Yh" union executive i-nmervd there with the Minister on Saturday and two mass meetings of the men wei e held on that day. The greatest reti-ic-nce is observed on all sides as to ■ hat is '!'•""■ direr-*"t - " f firm +o previous decisions and have lodged an application to refer the dispute to a council of conciliation.