LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES.

WELLINGTON BLACKSMITHS. (By "Unionist.") The workers employed in the blacksmithing trade in Wellington are, through their trade union, demanding improved labour conditions. At present the employment in the industry is regulated by an award of the court, dated lfaol. The union is arranging a conference with representatives of the employers to consider its demands. It is anticipated that a settlement will be arrived at without resort to the court. The union's new claims in the main are as follows : — Hours of labour : That the ordinary week's work shall consist of 44 hours, and this must be between the' hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week, and on Saturdays ordinary time must not exceed four hours, and must be worked between 8 a.m. and noon. One hour to be allowed each day for dinner between 12 noon and 1 p.m., Saturdays excepted. Wages : The minimum rate of wages shall be as follows: — For a farrier, £3 6s per week; for a general smith, £3 6s per week; for a floorman, £3 per week. These demands, if granted, will mean a reduction of two hours and a rise of from 6s to 9s per week on the existing award rates and working hours. Other claims^ are for the strict indenturing and limitation of apprentices, for overtime payment, and holidays. The union asks for this "preference": — "An employer when engaging any journeyman shall ascertain if such journeyman is a member of the Workers' Xjnion, and, if not, his engagement shall be subject to his becoming a member within one week of being engaged. All journeymen at present working for any employer, and who are not members of the Workers' Union, shall become members within one week from the time of this award coming into operation. The secretary of the Workers' Union shall notify employers when a man has not joined th© union, or become unfinancial within the meaning of the rules of the union. Any man becoming so unfinancial shall not be entitled to the provisions of this award with regard to preference unless he becomes financial within one week after the^employer is notified. No employershall place any obstacle in the way of any representative of the Workers' Union in the collection of moneys due, provided such collection is not mado during working hours." At nexl week's meeting of the Building Trades Labourers' Union officers will be elected for the ensuing half year. Most of the positions will be filled by unopposed nominees, but there will bo* a keen contest for the honour of representing the union on the Trades Council. Labour candidates are being pub up for seats on the Auckland City Council and Harbour Board. Messrs E. Cronin, W. S. Moxßom, and T. Walsh are * the Labour nominees for ithe council. Messrs W. Wakelin and W. J. Cullett have been elected to represent the local Grocers' Union at a conference of delegates from the unions in the centres, for the purpose of forming up a Grocers' Assistants' Federation. The conference opens in Chriatchurch on 25th April next. Exceptional interest is being taken throughout the Commonwealth in the forthcoming referendum ballot on the Federal Labour Party's proposals to alter the Constitution. In Victoria and N^ow South Wales, especially, quite an army of election agents are touring the country fur and against the proposals. The _ voting promises — against; earlier anticipations— to be as heavy,' or even heavier, than on last general election day. The referendums will be taken on 26th April next. On that day will rJso be held the by-election for Dalby, in' the Queensland Parliament, rendered necessary by the death of the late Speaker, G. T. Bell. The contest is a straight-out one between the Government and Labour nominees. Tho electorate is a pastoral one, and, although 31»abour will poll well, it is not generally expected that the seat will be won from the Government. Mr. W. Belcher will be a candidate for a seat on the Dunedin Harbour Board at the coming elections. His candidature has been supported by the Otago Trades Council. An award covering the "employment of workers in the bakery trade of Sydney has just been delivered by the Wages Board set up to deal with the dispute in { the industry. The conditions fixed by the board in Sydney are a considerable improvement on the Wellington award conditions, in connection with which the strike occurred here. Following are the main conditions granted in the new Syd. ney award :— -Ordinary hours are limited to 48 per week, and may be worked by day or night at the option of the employers. (The claim of the union for the abolition of night work was not granted.) Wages are fixed as under : —Operatives, constant hands, foremen, £2 18s 6d par week (day work), £3 2s (night work); all others, £2 12s 6d (day work), £2 16s (night work). Jobbers, long jobbers Is 3d per hour (day), Is 4£d per hour (night) ; short jobbers, Is 6d per hour (night) ; short jobers, Is 6d per hour | (day), Is 7Ad (night). Machine hands, per week, under 164 years, 15s' (day) or 17s 6d (night); under 17 years, 17s 6d and 20s ; under 17£ years, 20s and 22s 6d ; under 18, 22s 6d and 255 ; imder iSJ., 25s and 27s 6d ; under 19, 27s 6d and 30s; under 19£, 30s and 32s 6d ; under 20, 32s 6d and 355. Apprentices, i first six months 10s, second six months 10s and 12s 6d, third six months 12s 6d j and 15s, fourth six months 15s and 17s 6d, fifth six months 20s and 22s 6d, sixth six months 22s 6d and 255, seventh six months 27s 6d and 30s, eighth six months 32s 6d and 355. The master butchers in Brisbane recently held a meeting and took a vote on the desirableness of changing the weekly half-holiday from Wednesday to Saturday. Twenty-eight voted for it, and 14 against it, but this is not a, distinct majority, as required by the "'Act, of those engaged in the trade, who number 60. The Minister for Works has been appioached on the subject, and it is probable that another poll will be taken. Recently the Amalgamated Society of Ironworkers, Victoria, made a demand j on the employers for an all-round increase in wages of Is per day, and 1 the matter has been discussed at' a conference between representatives of both j sides. About six sittings of the conj fereaice were- held, and an amicable | • agreement has now been arrived at, by | which about 1000 workers in the metropolis will get increases from 7s to 7s 6d and from 7s 6d ix> 8s per day, while about 2500 others throughout the Sta-to who have been receiving less than the ruling rates will benefit to the extent of \ 2s or 2s 6d per day. The employers said they could not see their way to increase the wages to 8s in the shop and 9s for outside work, but were quite willing to pay a minimum of 7s 6d for skilled labourers. It was agreed to pay all those considered to be entitled to t'he increase 8s per day. Mr. W. D. Scott, superintendent of Canadian Immigration, states that this year the "Dominion expects to receive 200,000 people from the British Isles and 175,000 from the United States. Plasterer* in Melbourne- have entered into an agreement which fixes a wage of 1a 4.£ d for jourapy.niefi jo. the trade^