WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10416, 21 March 1912, Page 1

WORK AND WAGES.

THE BRISBANE STRIKE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. BRISBANE, March 20,

Mr Coyne, speaking at Morven, declared that the ex-tramway men occupied better positions than they held in tl.e tramway service. He did not know of one discontented striker. The Commissioner ol Railways denied that he stated that three hundred strikers were seeking re-employment on the railways. Some mad© pathetic appeals and expressed regret at striking. Tram strikers were also seeking positions on the railways.

AUCKLAND INDL'STB lAL TROUBLE.

ATTITUDE OF FARMERS' UNION, [Pkr Phess Association.] AUCKLAND, March 20.

The executive committees of twenty- J seven trades unions met last night to select, the names of prospective, candidates, any one ol whom the unionists of the city would be prepared to support in the "maj'oral election. A subcommittee of six was empowered to interview candidates to ascertain what measure, of Rapport would be likely to , be, given to the unionist cause. This committee will report to a general meeting of unionists to be held to-mor-row night,-when a final choice will be made of a Labour candidate for the mayoralty. Indications are that the mayoral election this year will be marked by exceptionally heavy polling. Applications for enrolment on the municipal electors' roll have reached quite* an unprecedented number. Some discussion was raised at a meeting of the executive of the Farmers' Union respecting the action of the Union in the event of a strike among Hu waterside workers. The following resolution was carried That this Union has no wish or intention to interfere with any industrial strife that may arise so long as it, does not interfere with farmers' business, but should the interests of farmers he menaced we reserve to ourselves the right to take such action as we deem necessary."

Later it was resolved that the secretary should send a letter to the newspapers stating clearly the position the Farmers' Union intends taking up in the event of a strike taking place in tiii.s province of sufiicicnt magnitude to constitute a serious menace to the interests of the farming community and the general public. In the event of a strike eventuating, it was decided that the secretary should immediately call the executive together. Mr Schmidt (secretary) stated that he had waited upon some of the city firms and asked them what they intended doing if a strike took pla£e. He pointed out to them that if; the Farmers' Union brought men in from the country it was only fair that the city firms should do their share. They said, Mr Schmidt stated, that they were prepared to do what they could It was resolved that the secretary should be authorised to enrol men should a strike render such a course necessary. In connection with this it was stated that four members of one Email branch of the Union in a remote country district had signified their intention of coming to town should their services be required.

WOOLLEN MJLLS EMPLOYEES. [Pen Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON. March 20.

The "Woollen Mills Employees' Union, a newly-formed body, brought its initial claim for flu award before the Court of Arbitration to-day. Mr H. C. Re veil and Mr P. Muir appeared for the employees and Mr W. Pryor for the employers. The employees claim a week of forty-eight hours, overtime at the rate of time and a quarter for the first four hours and time and a half thereafter, weekly engagement without deduction for lost time, and preference to unionists. As to wages, the claims are between £2 10s and £3 3s per week for men ; hoys from lis to 40s up to the age of twenty-one ; girls from lis to 17s 6d and girl workers 30s to 355. The employers .submitted counter-proposals. They agreed to a forty-eight-hour seek, but asked that the hours of working at night should be arranged between the mill manager and a majority of night workers. Overtime as asked was agreed to. The wages proposed hv the employers were as under : —Girls employed as wage hands shall he pa.id the following rates of wages:—For the first year 8s per week, for the second year lis per* week, for the third year l is petweek, thereafter the present rates now paid by the employers respectively, subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Factories Act being complied with. Hoys and youths employed as wage

hands shall be paid the following minimum rates of wages:—Fourteen to fif- j teen years of age 8s per week, fit teen to sixteen years of age lis per week, sixteen to seventeen years of ago 14s per week, seventeen to eighteen years of age 17s per week, eighteen to nineteen years of age 22s per week, nineteen to twenty years of age 26s per week, twenty to twenty-one years ol age 32s per \veek, thereafter 42s per week. Boys and youths employed as wages hands on night work shall he paid the following minimum rate of wages:— Sixteen to nineteen years of age 25s per week, nineteen to twenty years of age 30s per week, twenty to twenty-one years of age 37s per week, thereafter 42s per week. Male workers over the age of twenty-one, employed as wages hands, shall he paid the following minimum rates of wages :—Wool sorters 50s per week, tuners 56s per week, warpers 56s per week, pattern weavers (hand loom) 48s per week, spinners 50s per week, engine-drivers 54s per week, firemen 48s per week, carpenters 60s per •week, blacksmiths 60s per week, engineers 60s per week, improvers 45s per week, unskilled workers 42s per week. With reference to the engine-drivers, firemen, greasers, waggoner and coal carter employed in the Kainpoi mills the present conditions as to duties, hours of work, overtime, etc., now existing in relation--to these workers shall continue to be the terms and conditions of their employment during the currency of this award, subject in case of circumstances necessitating alteration of such conditions to be a matter for settlement under the provisions of clause 20 of this award. A further c.lau» specified that employers should rot discriminate against unionists. After evidence had been taken the Court reserved its decision.

Replying to Mr Pryor's figures. Mr Revell, one of those appearing for the employees, said the employers were making a groat bogey of imports. In that connection he might state that the number of hands employed in 1895. the date <>n which the Arbitration Act camo into force, was ]039: in 1902, 1698; in 15)11,' 1756. The last stated number was taken from the Labour Department's report. The employers claimed that the Union demands would mean an increase in their wage sheet of £21.000 a, year, but that meant an increase of only £ll per year per worker, or less than 5s per Week. The woollen industry in the country had expanded and the mills were bigger now than they were ten years ago. When the industry was protected up to 40 per cent nil valorem duty the people had a right to expect 'that the employees would be better treated than they were at present.