LABOURER'S WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1724, 15 April 1913, Page 5

LABOURER'S WAGES.

UNION'S LATEST MOVE. CITY COUNCIL'S PREDICAMENT. The City Council of Wellington has been made to look exceedingly foolish by tho General Labourers' Union. Some time ago tho General Labourers' Union, by their secretary (Mr. M. J. Rcardon) made application to the City Council to hare tho rates of pay to labourers, permanent and casual, in tho employ of tlio City Corporation increased. To tho City Engineer W. H. Morton) wa3 delegated tho duty of negotiating with tho union, and Mr. Morton in duo course reported to the council the result of his negotiations. Then the City Council began to consider —this was only a .few weeks ago—wliat the wages to be paid should be, and it was finally decided to pay permanent men Is. lid. per hour, and casuals Is. 21d. per hour, in.a week of IS hours. There was another proposal that tho whole disputo should bo referred at once to tlio Court established to deal with sucli cases, but this motion was defeated, beine opposed by those councillors reputed to 1)6 friends of Labour. Instruction was duly passed on to tho City Engineer to pay tho increased rates, and ho has paid them accordingly. Tlio union wero also notified, < but no agreement was drawn up, and no reply was received from the union accepting or rejecting tho rates. Nov, at tho expiry of tho term of tho existing award, tho General Labourers' Union nro citing all employers of general labourers, including tlio City Council, before tho , Conciliation Commissioner, with tho object of having a now award made. Tho council certainly thought at tho time that tho resolution agreeing to pay tho higher rates settled tho trouble, but it has only cost tho city a littlo more money, and done nothing to achiovo industrial peaco. i ■ . Tho first hearing of the case is set down for April 21 next. Tho union demands Is. 3d. per liour for all ordinary workers, Is. Gd. per hour 'for pipe-layers, and 12s. per shift for all men employed underground, in driving or limbering tunnels, or in sinking shafts. They ask also that tho week's work shall consist of -It hours. When you'vo been talking all day in n stuffy room it usually results in a headacho. It needn't last but a few, minutes. Stearns' Headache Curo relieves it.—Advt. "What would our wives say if they knew where wo were?" said tho captain of a schooner, when tho.v wero beating about in a thick fog, fearful of going on shore. "I shouldn't mind that," replied tho mate,; "if wo only knew where WO wero ourselves." Yankee—"Well, yes, sir, I give in to you. l Shakespeare was a genius; but ho didn't seem to put it to a practical use. Never benefited civilisation with a washing machine, nor a patent turnip-peeler, nor anything of tliat sort. Still, ho was a smart man," Prospective Employer (perusing reference)—" Have you any knowledgo of tlio silk and satin department." Applicant —"Spent all my lifo among 'em. sir." I'rospectivo Employer—"And sheets and blankets?" Applicant (forcibly)—" Bom among 'cm, sir!" Renault Motor Cars.—Tho 15 h.p. Honault is reduced in prico to .l?>3f>, complete, with torpedo body, 5 lamps, Jiood, screen, detachable wheels .und spare,-'. 13.1), with >amo equipment, .1M55. Scott Motor Avcncv. Wellington.—Advt.