H.—ll

9. Overtime shall be paid as follows: Day-wage men, time and a quarter up to 10 p.m.; from 10 to 12 p.m , time and a half; and double time after 12 p.m. Pieceworkers, 3d. per hour extra up to 10 p.m., 6 per hour after 10 p.m. to 12 p.m., and Is, per hour after 12 p.m. 10. The log attached hereto shall be binding upon all parties. This agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto for a period commencing on Monday, the 2nd January, and ending the 31st day of December, 1899.

Maech, 1899. The following are the recommendations of the Boards of Conciliation in the Auckland bootmakers' and Christchurch grocers' assistants' disputes ; and the awards of the Court of Arbitration in the Dunedin tailoresses', the Christchurch bootmakers', Christchurch painters', Christchurch tinsmiths', and Christchurch furniture trades disputes. An agreement between the parties to the Dunedin linotype dispute is also referred to. Auckland Bootmakebs. Before the Board of Conciliation in the Northern Industrial District.—ln the matter of an industrial dispute between Hal Goodacre and the Auckland Operative Bootmakers' Industrial Union, and of a reference thereof for settlement. This dispute was first considered by the Board on the 6th day of December, 1898, and by adjournment on subsequent days. The Board recommended that the finding be the same as in the case between the Auckland Operative Bootmakers' Industrial Union and the Auckland boot-manufacturers, and, having failed to effect a settlement, it was resolved to refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration. Since the above inquiry it has been reported that there waß an informality in the former proceedings, and the Auckland Industrial Union request that the informality be corrected and the dispute be referred to the Court of Arbitration. The Board, having heard the application, recommend that the finding be the same as in the former case ; and the secretary of the union having declined to accept the finding, the Board resolved to refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for settlement. A. H. Colliks, Chairman. Auokland, 23rd March, 1899. Chbistchdbch Gbocebs' Assistants. In the matter of the Canterbury Grocers' Assistants' Industrial Union of Workers and Messrs. Wardell Brothers and others. The Board's recommendation on this case is as follows :— Hours. —That the recognised hours of work shall not exceed fifty-two hours per week, and shall be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with one hour for dinner; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays ; and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, with two hours allowed for meals. Wages. —The minimum wage for general counter-hands, storekeepers, book-keepers, order-collectors, and head carters shall be £2 ss. per week ; other carters, £2. Men who are considered to be unable to earn the minimum wage shall be paid such lesser sum, if any, as may be agreed upon by a committee of three appointed by the union, and three by the employers, and failing their agreeing, then by the Chairman for the time being of the Conciliation Board. Overtime. —All time worked in excess of the hours stated in Rule 1, and also all time worked on the following days—viz.: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Good Friday, Queen's Birthday, Anniversary Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day—shall be recognised as overtime, and paid for at the rate of Is. per hour. Labour. —Only two classes of labour shall be recognised—viz., journeymen and apprentices. Apprentices. —All apprentices shall be legally indentured for a period of five years, and receive ss. per week for the first year, 10s. for the second, JL5s. for the third, £1 for the fourth, £1 10s. for the fifth year. The proportion of apprentices to journeymen shall be one to three or fraction of first three. In determining the proportion of apprentices employed the number of journeymen permanently employed by one firm for a period of at least three months immediately preceding engagement shall be taken into consideration, and that proportion shall be maintained, but three months' exemption may be allowed if any number of journeymen fall below the scale. This schedule of wages shall apply to all cases where less than five years has been served at the trade, whether in the character of apprentices or as what is generally known as juniors, with this exception : that no arrangement as to class or proportion of hands employed- in force at this date shall be interfered with, provided the wages paid are not below the above schedule. Preferential Employment. —The members of the Canterbury Grocers' Union shall have preference of employment over non-members, provided that the members of the union are equally qualified with non-members to perform the particular work required to be done, and are ready and willing to undertake it. Employers to give the seoretary twenty-four hours' notice of workmen required before engaging any non-union men. Industrial Agreement. —An industrial agreement embodying the above conditions to be entered into on or before the 31st March, 1899, and the foregoing recommendations to come into force on the 31st March, 1899, and to remain in force for a period of two years— i.e., until the 31st March, 1901. A. H. Tubnbull, Chairman. Dunedin Tailoeesses. In the matter of " The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1894," and the amendments thereof, and in the matter of an industrial dispute between the Dunedin Tailoresses' Industrial Union of Workers (herein called "the union") and the under-mentioned employers of tailoresses, that is to say: Messrs. Baker and Morris; Brown, Ewing, and Co., Thos. F. Feltham, F. Smith, jun., D.1.C., Win. Aitken and Sons, A. Anderson, W. and R. Scott, Bennett and Griffen, Todd and Brown, Craig and Smith, Walter lies, Fred Smith, James Crombie and Co., W. A. Smith and Co., W. McLaren, A. Lorie and Co., Thos. Jenkins and Co., J. A. Kirby, S. Jarvis; Herbert, Haynes, and Co., John Wilson, Hallenstein Bros, and Co., W. D. Mcßride, J. Tait, Abraham Myers, G. M. Wilkie, Wm. Wills, Duthie Bros. (Limited), John McDonald, J. Hendry and Sons, the Don Tailoring Company, Alexander Robb, Peter Rankin, E. Stokes and Sons, Patterson and Eoberts, William Frank, Andrew Walker, J. and J. Arthur, L. Faigan, Frank Foster, Robert Johnston and Sons (Dunedin), Jas. Craig, Jas. Johnston, John Watson (Port Chalmers), John Milligan, Wm. Robertson (Mosgiel), A. MoKinley, and A. Warrington (Green Island), hereinafter collectively referred to as " the employers." The Court of Arbitration of New Zealand (hereinafter called " the Court "), having taken into consideration the matter of the above-mentioned dispute, and having read and considered the report and recommendations of the Conciliation Board herein, and having heard the union by its representatives duly appointed, and having also heard the above-named W. and R. Scott by Mr. Scott (a member of the said firm), the above-named James Crombie and Co. by Mr. Crombie (a member of the said firm), the above named Tnomas Jenkins and Co. by Mr. Jenkins (a member of the said firm), the above-named A. Lorie and Co. by Mr. Lorie (a member of the said firm), and the above-named Baker and Morris by Mr. Morris (a member of the said firm); and no other of the employers appearing personally or by representative; and having heard the witnesses called and examined by the said A. Lorie in opposition to the claims made by the union; and no other of the employers represented at the hea,ring desiring to call evidence; and it appearing to the Court unnecessary that the union should call evidence, doth hereby order and award as follows, that is to say :—

LVIII