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settled by the Chairman of the local Board of Conciliation." That clause would be embodied in the final award and filed in the Supreme Court. The award would be for two years from this date, and the increased wages, as per Eules 1 and 3, would start from Tuesday, the 6th July. Bootmakers' Dispute. —The recommendations of the Board in April were not accepted by the three firms—-Messrs. Suckling Brothers, Toomer Brothers, and C. J. Clayton—and the case went before the Arbitration Court. Messrs. Suckling Brothers and Toomer Brothers stated that they had non-union factories, employed both union and non-union hands, that there had been no difficulties between them and employes, and therefore they did not agree to the recommendation of the Board. They claimed that the award of the Court in December last did not apply to parties outside the unions or the Employers' Association. Messrs. Suckling Brothers objected to the clause which enjoined the employment of unionists in preference to non-unionists. On the other hand, the union pointed out that they had conceded a great deal in agreeing to work with non-union men. Mr. Clayton stated that in his branch of the trade—viz., manufacture of women's and children's boots —he could not get ordinary workmen, and had to train boys to the work; his was a non-union factory. His case dealt chiefly with boy-labour, and with the price of piecework and light goods. The one point in common dispute between the three employers and the union was that the union wished to enforce employers to give union men the preference. In December the Court decided that preferential employment should be given, partly because the shops concerned were all union shops. In Mr. Clayton's case, with regard to employment of boys, it was unnecessary for the Court to take any action, as the present agreement would lapse in December next, and Mr. Clayton had promised not to employ any more boys; but the Judge said there was no reason why the three firms should not adhere to prices, wages, and conditions set forth in award. The minute of the award of the Court in the cases of Messrs. Suckling Brothers, E. Toomer, and C. J. Clayton was, — The statement of wages and conditions of labour as in the printed award, except that clause 2 should be modified, and that the firms should not be required to employ union men in preference, but only not to discriminate between union and non-union men, and also that the employers should not do anything directly or indirectly to the detriment of the union; that the provisions as to Boards should not apply ; that weekly wages in clause 6 should be fixed by the General Board to be constituted under the award ; and that persons in departments governed by the minimum wage incapable of earning that wage might refer their case to the local Board of Conciliation to be constituted under the award. Painters' Dispute, between the Christchurch Painters' Union and Messrs. Gapes and Company. —■ Messrs. Gapes and Company did not agree to the recommendations of the Board in May. They stated that they had never had any dispute with their men, and did not restrict themselves to union nor to non-union men. The union complained that Messrs. Gapes and Company wished to have advantages over other employers who were willing to accept the recommendation of the Board. The Judge said the award would be practically on the lines of the recommendation of the Board. No costs were awarded. August, 1897. Auckland. Seamen's Dispute. —The Conciliation Board met to consider the seamen's dispute. The parties concerned were—The Auckland branch of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand and (1) the Northern Steamship Company (Limited); (2) A. McGregor, manager of steamers " Kia-ora," " Eose Casey," and "Maori"; (3) Captain Shaw, p.s. " Terranora " ; (4) Messrs. Leyland and O'Brien, owners s.s. " Stella " ; (5) Captain Braidwood, s.s. " Akaroa." The requirements of the union were as follows :— (1.) Increase of 10s. per month in the wages of lamp-trimmers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, boys, or other employes (exoepting officers) engaged on deck in all steamers or tenders owned or chartered by [then appeared the names of the foregoing]. (2.) Payment of overtime at the rate of Is. per hour for all work done at cargo between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. Overtime at the rate of Is. per hour for firemen who work over eight hours per day in port; sea-watches to count as portion of eight hours. The crews of vessels leaving port on Sundays or stated holidays to be paid not less than 4s. per man. Schedule rates to be paid for all classes of work done in port on same days, or for being kept on board the vessel under any pretext whatever. When excursions are run on Sundays or stated holidays the whole crew to be paid overtime, such payments not to exceed Bs. and not less than 4s. per man. The foregoing to apply to all vessels irrespective of whether engaged inside or outside river limits. (3.) Increase of £1 10s. per month in all firemen's, greasers', donkeymen's, or other employes' wages engaged in engine-room or stokehole who work six-hour watches. (4.) Keeping watch on vessels safely moored alongside any wharf on Sundays or stated holidays to be paid for at schedule rates. The same to apply to any night-watoh or portion of night-watch kept at any other time. (5.) The absolute discontinuance of giving time off in lieu of overtime payments. No deductions to be made from overtime when once earned. (6.) The observance of five statutory holidays during the year—viz., Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Queen's Birthday, Good Friday, Eight Hours Demonstration Day or Labour Day. Overtime to be paid for these days as per clause 2. The full text of evidence and discussion will be found in the Labour Journal of the 16th September, 1897. The Board made the following recommendations : — (1.) That there be an increase of 10s. per month in the wages of lamp-trimmers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, boys, or other employes (excepting officers) engaged on deok in all steamers or tenders owned or chartered by the above firms. (2.) That overtime be paid at the rate of Is. per hour for able seamen and 9d. per hour for ordinary seamen for all cargo-work from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. in all sea-going vessels. The same overtime to apply to steamers trading within extended river limits while running double or extra trips. In all other steamers trading within extended river limits no overtime to be allowed. In the interpretation of this clause a trip shall be understood to mean a passage to any port within the extended river limits and back again, and a double trip another passage begun within the same twenty-four hours. All firemen who work over eight hours per day in port to be paid overtime at the rate of Is. per hour, sea-watches to count as portion of the eight hours. When excursions are run on Sundays or stated holidays overtime shall be paid for the time so employed, not exceeding in all Bs. nor less than 4s. per man. When a vessel arrives in port on Sunday or stated holidays, and sails again the same day, overtime shall be paid for the time the crew is aotually employed, not exceeding Bs. per man. (3.) That all firemen, greasers, and donkeymen receive the same increase of wages as seamen—viz., 10s. per month—and that all firemen working six-hour watches receive Is. per hour for all work required of them over their eight hours per day, which day is to include their watches at sea, the owners to be allowed to give them time off as an equivalent as per clause 5. (4.) That men

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