WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6496, 27 May 1899, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

„ .._'... MINERS' CONFERENCE, . •' ; Uaited Press. :Associaao^rßV "Electric' : l .-.,- :; ■■ .;>«*-- Copyright. .:,■„■.,-. ,. ;; — -.- . : : " BRUSSELS, May 26. ' The' '-Miners' " International ' Congress '>re- ; comiftended 'national' minimum' iVagiß find J .hiternatipnal irSgidatibriVof th^,- output; of •c0a1...,.: , .. .. ..;.■ ■ v .. ;...,....' ....':!v\

■; [Per Pkess Association.] ' 7 ••■•.• -WELLINGTON', May 26.' At the Conciliation Board' to-day, T the hearing of the case brought' by the Wellington branch of the Seaaien's Union' was begun- Mr W. Jones, secretary of the Union; said that' the 'men declined to accept the draft memorandum drawn up at the conference, as they thought that ho concessions had been granted.-. Mr Kennedy, for. the Union Steamship Company, urged that the matters in dispute should he hold over until the- result of "th'o plebiscite," -which bad 'been -taken ;by the Dmtwdin- branch of the. Union on similar items to those before the' Board "'had -been nfede known:: ,Mr Hindmarsh, .. president of the Unidriv» ; in opening the case, said that- wages had risen all: ■ over "the' world' during .they.-jiastv-few-years, -and. yet'- seamen 1 and firemen"'were.paod less- than. they. received Some liv«:.ycar& ago.. The : Union,, therefore,- tiiought that as . prosperous times lia-d come tho old rate should be restored. Mr Jones, in urging increased wages,. pointed out the' hardships and long: .hours., of -those working in boats, declaring that the -average work was sixteen houra per d&.y, and that the pay was about. 3£d per hour. In addition to an increased rate of wages, he urged that more •adequate provision should be made for giving men rest. -He understood that the owners. desired to modify these long hours, and the Board, should take advantage of it. Eventually the Board adjourned until Wednesday morning. • ;