LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13915, 28 May 1909, Page 5

LABOUR.

STRIKE OF SEAMEN. Press Association-By' Telegraph-Copyright • ... I'AIUS, May 26. : The Marseilles seameii have struck. They demand a weekly day of rest and the exclusion of-coloured- men. ■ The London and .-. Messa'geries Maritiiries boats are affected by' : the- strike, -and the early prodiice : traffic from Northern Africa is paralysed. Twenty-five steamers are rendered idle. BROKEN HILL AWARD. MELBOURNE, May! 27. Speaking at the' Block X .Company's meeting, the chairman said that the award recentlygiven -in- the Arbitration Court'-was so far-reaching that it might be disastrous: to the Entire community. Before the Court could become of real utility- some -drastic amending legislation was necessary. BOOTMAKING DISPUTE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 27. The Arbitration Court continued the hearing of the dispute in the bootmaking industry tcniay. ' • Mr Frostick,' continuing Lis address on behalf of • the' employers, ■ quoted figures ft) show how the importation of boots was increasing. If all the boots now imported were made in New Zealand, employment would be given to about 1500 -persons. Nearly 200,000 more pairs of 'boots were imported in 1900 than were: made in New Zealand. An award for higher wages would mean that it would be impossible for the employers to carry On' without rixnning a great risk of destroying- their business. If wages we>t& to be based on' profit.?, they must also' be based upon losses. Australia, ' with, a . population of 4,000,000 in 1906, imported footwear to tlie ' falue of £96,889, in .1908 she imported £82,975 worth. New Zealand, with a population of about 1,000,000, imported boots valued • at £128,187 in 1906, and the British importations in 1908 were valued at £142,182, ah increase for' t\Vo years of - AiistThlia's decrease of £13*914-. Surely these were startling figures to be considered, not only by boot manufacturers, hut b.v the people of New Zealand. In 1888 the percentage of imported boots, per head of population in New Zealand, was .89', in 1907 it was 1.14; thus every person in New Zealand, taking the average was wearing nearly'a pair and a half of dutiable. boots per year. Eighty per cent: of the peopile "were working people, and were not loyal to their own industries.

After- evidence had been given for the employers, Messrs Frostick and Cooper addressed the Court. It was then decided that the parties should meet in conference to-mor-row morning. STARTING RELIEF WORKS. WELLINGTON, May. 27.. The Wellington Harbour Board had under consideration to-day the question of proceeding with new works, with a view to affording some relief to the large number, of unemployed "at present in Wellington. • It was resolved to immediately proceed with the works recommended by the engineer, involving an expenditure of about £40,000. ! The chairman' (Mr T: N. W 7 i!ford, in explaining the attitude of the Board, said the members-had., been actuated with an idea of ••'affording some relief to the serious distress How existing, but at the. same .time he desired to emphasise the point that not . one _ shilling was being Expended which had 'not been recommended by' the engineer, so that the Board would get full value for its money. Dr. Newman (Mayor of Wellington) said the' City Council would co-operate with the Harbour Board as far as possible, and had already endeavoured to meet the difficulty by starting useful works. NATIONAL TESTIMONIALS. • CHRISTCHURCII, May 27. At a 'complimentary banquet tonight; attended by close oii:30O farmers, Messrs David -Jones and Richard Evans wei-e presented 1 with a national testimonial in recognition of their services to the farmers in New Zealand in conducting the Canterbury farmers' case in the farin labourers'.dispute. Mr G. W. Leadley presided, and' he and other speakers warmly eulogised the services done by Messrs Jones and Evans, who were presented with illuminated addresses and purses of sovereigns. The proceedings were most, enthusiastic: •