LABOUR AND WAGES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9595, 5 February 1910, Page 6

LABOUR AND WAGES.

ASHBURTON THRESHING MILL HANDS. UNSATISFACTORY CON DITIONS COMPLAINED OF. (Z>.v Te'cjiMph , — /'re-i< A-<*"ri>jtion.) ASHBURTON, Friday. The Guaivliau states that ior some time pa it tha g3uar:il bauds employee: on thrashing mills throughout, tho Ashburtjn Couuty have been dissatisfied with tlioir pay, which, computed ou quautity basis, makes things very unsatisfactory from clieir point or view. This year, owing to the lightness of grain and the quantity of straw in the chaff, the work of aggrogating the bushels is a task nearly double that of a year such as last. The men hold that this should be recognised, aud that they should bo paid at so much par hour rather thau at so much par bushel as at present. The broken weather experienced duriug the past few weaks brought tho matter to a hea-i, aud as tho specific resale of a spacially uuremuuerative day's work yesterday, the hands ou the mill working in the Wakanui district this morning made representations to the owners. The latter immediately saw thn farmer whose grain was being dealt with, and asked it' lie would be agreaable to being charged on time instead of on a quautity basis. On the farmer declining to take a step which would have such an importaut bearing ou the interests both of the County ami Douiiniou

grain growers, the men at once stopped work, and the mill was left idle. It is understood that the mill bauds throughout the County arc fairly united in regard to the broad principle of the question at issue, aud that they cousider should be paid Is 3d per hour, and fiud themselves. Developments: are anticipated.