WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5167, 28 January 1895, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

• — [Special to Press Association.J THE WALLSEND TROUBLE. SYDNEY, Jan. 26. In connection with the working of the labour bureau, the Hon Mr Garrard said ho would sooner assimilate our system in one of ita details to that of New Zealand, as it would be better to have the whole work centralised. There, bureaux were established in the principal towns, ahd from what he saw in New Zealand he inclines to the opinion that there is a lower class of men here; but that fact, he thinks, is accounted for by the unemployed congregating in the capital, while in New Zealand they are more distributed. At the Magistrate's Court at Timaru last week a civil suit waa heard, arising out of a dispute as to the proper rate of wageß for a blacksmith at a country Bhop, for a steady job, wben boarded and lodged by the employer. The plaintiff had been at work at a shop at St Andrews for sixtythree weeks, without any agreement as towages, receiving money from time to time. When he left, and they squared up, he claimed that he ought to have 35a a week and his keep; while the employer thought 25s a week would be 'fair pay. Evidence waß led for plaintiff that blackmiths' pay in Timaru is 8a and 9s a day for competent mon, 7a for second-class men and 6a for "helpers." On the other hand, it was shown that 25s a week and found is a common rate iv conntry shops. The Stipendiary Magistrate made some remarks on the folly of not having an agreement, and then fixed the rate to be paid a£_7-r per day, and allowed 15s_|^-*»k^i- r board and lodginff»~igal-Mg^neinoney wage 27s per week. '"...*"