LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13909, 21 May 1909, Page 3

LABOUR.

151! OK EN HILL REFERENDUM

Pass Associntion-lSy Telegraph-Copyright

Rccehcd 1 a.m., Alay Ist. SYDNEV, .May 20

The Broken Hill referendum resulted in 1773 for, anil 1330 against, resuming work. Although the vote was ostensibly only on the question whether the Port I'irie men's action should he endorsed, the result is accepted as deciding the Barrier trouble also. CYCLE TRADES AGREEMENT. As the result of conferences between employers and workers, the following agreement controlling the cycle trade ol Canterbury has been arrived at: — Clause 1. —Hours of work: Special provisions for South Canterbury: A week's work to be 48 hours, worked between S a.m. and 6 p.m on live days of the week, and 8 a.m. to I p.m. on one day in the week.

Clause 2. —Overtime Rates: Time and a quarter for the first three hours, time and a half for the second three, hours, and-double time after the second three hours.

Clause 3. —Holidays: Special provision tor South Canterbury: All time worked on Sunday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day sliall be paid for at double time rates and time worked on New Year's Day, January 2nd, from noon. Trades' Picnic Day, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Empire Day. Labour Day, King's Birthday, Show Day trom noon, Anniversary Day, and Boxing Day, at the rate of time and a half.

Clause 4. —Wages: Minimum rate for workers over the age of 22, employed in polishing; plating and enamelling, ICMine buildiug, and wheel building, turners. repairers, and assemblers —not less than Is lid per hour. Clause 5. —Boys: Boys to receive for the first year, 10s; fourth year, 2os; fifth year, or on attaining the age of 21, 50s per week. On the completion of the sixth year, or attaining the age of 22, not less than the minimum in clause 4. When boys are employed, they shall be in the proportion of one boy to one man in receipt of not less than the minimum wage. Clause G. —Permit- Clause: Workers uuabie to earn the minimum rate of payas hereinbefore specified, may be paid such less rate as may be agreed upon between the employer, the secretary of the Union, and the Inspector of Factories.

Clause 7.—Preference : All persons engaged in the cycle industry shall within one- month from the coining into oiieratioii of this award, become anil remain members of the Canterbury Cycle Workers' Industrial Union of Workers, provided that the entrance fee shall not exceed 2.s 6d, and subsequent contributions not more than 6d per week. Any person refusing to become a member shall be dismissed from his employment if the Union so desires, it- being agreed that the Union shall provide a member of the Union to fill the vacancy equally qualified to perform the work required to be done. In case of dispute the matter to be referred to the Inspector of Factories. This agreement shall be made an award of the* Court, and shall be from the date of its being made such, for the term of two years.

The set of conditions originally submitted by the Canterbury Cycle Workers' Union differed in several resjiects from the conditions ultimately agreed to. In clause 4 twenty-one w«s fixed as the age at which a worker became entitled to the minimum adult wage, which it was proposed should be Is 3<l per hour. Clause -j originally read: Boys to receive for the first year 10s per week, second rear Jos. third year 20s. fourth year 2os. fifth year 30s. on the completion of the fifth year of hi* apprenticeship or attaining the age of twenty-one, shall be deemed a journeyman. and receive such remuneration as set forth in the award. Boys were to be employed in the pro]x>rtion of one boy to every three nieu or fraction of the first three. The workers further proposed that the award should remain in force for only twelve months.