Demands of Workers.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3849, 1 August 1908, Page 2

Demands of Workers.

By Telegraph.—Press Association Waihi, Last Night.

At the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union annual meeting last evening a letter was read from the Canterbury Tanners, Fellmongers, and Skinners' Industrial Union of Workers, expressing dissatisfaction with the awards of the Arbitration Court and covering a resolution urging the Legislature to decide a standard wage for the workers of the Dominion, to prevent the recurrence of the conditions existing in older countries, such standard to be the minimum conditions that it is competent for the Arbitration Court to award. After discussion for and against the resolution further consideration was deferred for a future meeting.

The secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers' Union wrote drawing attention to—l. The costs incurred by the union in fighting the workers' cause; 2. The alleged attempt of the Farmers' Union to prevent organisation among country workers and the operations of the Arbitration Act being applied to farm labourers; and 3. Asking for financial assistance from the Waihi Union. It was decided to call- a special meeting of the union for August 15th to deal with the matter. The Wellington Labour Council also wrote asking financial assistance towards the bakers on strike in Wellington, and stating that the award in the bakers' dispute was "a disgrace to our courts." It was decided to vote a sum of £lO towards the strike fund. Dunedin, Last Night.

Disputes between the employers and the Plasterers' and Range Workers' Unions have been heard. In the former the employers sought an amendment of the existing award as regards suburban and country work, and it was agreed to accept a clause that suburban work should mean woik done at a distance of over a mile and a half from the post office. The points for the Court to decide are: What additional sum shall be paid on country work, and what overtime shall be paid for country work? In the "letterpress machinists' dispute a number of details were agreed upon in conference, but the question of wages was unsettled. The employees ask for a minimum of £3 per week, and the employers offer £2 15s. The Court reserved its decision.