WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2023, 7 March 1907, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

Press Association. INVERCARGILL, yesterday. A full board o. butchers, mostly old hands, have agreed to start at Alataura to-morrow morning at the old rates, subject to retrospective payment according to the now award AVhen a full board is obtained at AA’allacetown, operations will he resumed. The company will not discriminate between old hands and now. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. The Arbitration Court .gave judgment to-day re the slaughtermen’s strike at Belfast and Islington works It found them guilty of taking part in a strike, acting in combination and refusing work because the companies had not agreed to their terms. Several of the defendants were dismissed, but the charges against all the others were sustained, and the men fined £5 each. The Court desired to add a hope that the men would consult their own interests and those oi their employers by arranging to return to work without further delay. The companies offer to discuss terms with the union and make the rate finally settled to operate as from date of the strike was a very fair one, quite apart from any questions of penal consequences on ill-advised 11011-acceptaueo of the offer. The case against the Ashburton slaughtermen, 50 in all, was then taken for hearing, and being on all fours with the others, the men were each fined £5. The fines carry costs, spread over tho whole body of men. It is probable most of tho men will pay the fines at once, and failing that the Department will issue distress warrants, as in tho case of an ordinary debt. Tho judgment of the Court'was very lengthy, and every point raised was exhaustively dealt with. The Arbitration Court ratified the agreement between the clothing manufacturers and Federated Tailoresses’ Union and other employees. The agreement was the result of tho conference hold in Christchurch, and was signed by P. Herons, Kniapoi AVoollon Factory, for tho employers, and Hon. J. T. Paul for the employees. DUNEDIN, last night.

The Otago Employers’ Association, after considering the question of tlic slaughtermen’s stride, agreed to forward the Association s opinions thereon to the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, so that the question might bo dealt with as from one body. The op'nion was generally expressed that unless an award of the Arbitration Court can he made enforceable against workers 'it was of no value to employers. At the request of the Advisory Board of the Now Zealand Employers’ Federation, the Otago Empoyors’ Association agree that their secretary (Mr. W. Scott) should proceed to Auckland after attending the sitting of the Arbitration Cou.t on the West Coast in the matter of the Westport coal dispute, and there represent cmnloyers in the tramway dispute, and also in the Wnihi go’dmining dispute.

PROBABLE SETTLEMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, last night, A Conference was held this afternoon between the representatives of the two meat companies and the officials and executive of the Slaughtermen’s Union. No decision, however, was arranged as to tlic terms upon which the men would resume work, and the Conference was adjourned till to-morrow. HOPEFUL CONDITION IN SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, last night. The impression is current that the end of the strike in Southland is in view. The Mataura works recommence operations on Friday, the men having agreed to accept terms originally offered by the company. Work would have begun sooner but for unavoidable delay in bringing stock forward. The Wallacetown works start again at the end of the week or beginning of next. Most of the moil to be employed are new hands.