WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4676, 21 June 1893, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

♦ [Sfkciaii to Fbebs Association.] MELBOURNE, Junb 20. The ballot of the Seamen's Union on the question o£ the reduction of wages by the shipowners continues. It is not expected that the result of the intercolonial balloting will be known before Friday. Mr Guthrie, the Secretary of the Adelaide branch of the Seamen's Union, is endeavouring to induce the shipowners to appoint a conference with the men, SYDNEY, Junk 21. The Eailway Commissioners, after investigation, declare that the men's complaintß of grievances are unjustified, and that steps will have to be taken to rid the service of a few disloyal servants, whose actions are militating againßt the successful management of the railways. In future the Commissioners will not receive com. plaints from any Association, but they will be willing to consider complaints from individuals.

fPEB Puses Association.! AUCKLAND, Juhe 21. la the Supreme Court this morning argument was heard in the case, on appeal j from the Besident Magistrate's Court, in connecaion with the Factories Act, John Van Breda being appellant and Hubert Fergugon,lnspectortinderthe Factories Acfc, respondent. This was an appeal from the ! decision oE Dr Giles, EM., in the Police Court. The defendant, Van Breda, being the occupier of a factory, wa3 in the , habit of paying women employed by him

weekly wage 3 every Monday evening. On the Thursday preceding Good Friday last the women were paid up to date, and- then dismissed, being at the same time informed that work would be resumed at the faotory on the Tuesday following. One or two women did not come baok on Tuesday, and there was no engagement binding any of them to do so. No wages were paid from Good Friday to Easter Monday inoluBive, but wages were paid for Easter Tuesday and subsequent days. Dr Giles had considered the dismissal on the evening preceding Good Friday aa an evasion of the last paragraph of Section 18 of the Act, and defendant waa fined half-a-crown and costs on each information. The penalty was imposed under Section 61 of the Act. Dr Giles had expressed a doubt at the time whether the section could be made applicable to the present case, and the question for the opinion of the Supreme Court was whether the convictions were wrong in point of law. WELLINGTON, June 21. A deputation appointed by the unemployed waited on the Premier this morning, and urged him to push on the northern trunk railway and other works to provide employment. Mr Seddon said he had never promised to, and never would, find work for all the unemployed. Government would do its best, and if the names and addreß.es of the men were supplied they would be referred to the Labour Bureau to see what could be done. All other things being equal, New Zealanders and married men would have the preference. The result was reported to the meeting outaide the Government buildings, and appeared to give rise to Borne dissatisfaction, but a number of names were handed in. Another meeting will be held on the .reclaimed land tomorrow, the Premier having refused to let any more be held in the Government buildings grounds. Mr Seddon questioned the deputation bb to how long they had been in New Zealand, and it turned out that not one had been here longer than ten months, and Borne only a fe* weeks. He rebuked Mr Eagle in strong terms for using abusive language to the officers of the Labour Bureau. Mr Eagle said he was quite justified, but the Premier refused to argue with him.

[Spbcial to "Star."] WELLINGTON, Junk 21. The deputation of the unemployed to the Premier this morning led to a rather remarkable scene, which will be commented upon all over the Australian Colonies with the best effect upon the influx of labour thence to here. At the outset Mr Seddon insisted on knowing who the men were, how long they had been in the Colony, how long they had been out of work, how often fchey had been employed, and so forth. " I want to know," he said, " whom lam talking to." These questions brought out the fact that there was only one New Zealander in the case. The Premier's next step wae to inform the deputation that an individual named Eagle, one of their number, had been reported as using threatening language. If that were the case he should have to treat that individual as he had treated one who had similarly behaved in Christohurch. Mr Eagle thereupon complained that he had been misreported, and the Premier allowed him to remain. The Premier then informed the deputation that they had not the same rightß here aB New Zealanders, as the money by which employment was found had come from New Zealand packets. They had enjoyed the sunshine elsewhere, and had come here when times got worae. It was not for them to dictate to the Government what works were to be performed. After much more of the same sort of conversation, the deputation withdrew.