WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2052, 12 April 1907, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

STATEMENT BY All! MILLER

The Alinister for Labor (the Hon. ■J A. Aliller) docs not. fed inclined to recede from tile position bo lias taken up in regard to the part played by Australians in the rc-cent slaughtermen’s dispute, in spite of the heavy condemnation launched against him by the Trades Council Conference in Dunedin. Speaking to a reporter he said he had nothing much to add to what lie had stated in Dunedin, “but 1 still maintain that Australians were there,” he said. “As soon as we heard of the strike in AVcllington in the morning, the inspector was sent out. He interviewed the men and pointed out the position to them, and advised them to go on with their work. They refused. They told him they had struck in Victoria last year, and had gained a rise; that they had struck in New South Wales and had gained a rise, and that they would have ; t hero; that they did not care for our laws, or for the Arbitration Court, as they would bo in Australia before

the Court could reach them. “I had reliable information when I made the statement that two or three Australians were amongst the leaders at Smithfield; also, I • have been informed since, on what I believe to be reliable authority, that it

was part of tho agreement with the freezing companies that they should he able to work on even terms with the New Zealand companies. In these circumstances I maintain that both Dr. Findlay and myself were justified in observing that the Australians were at the bottom of the trouble.

“As far as I am personally concerned, I had done with the. mutter after tho law was upheld, and T would have said no more on the subject, but. for the resolution passed by the Conference. I may add, however, that a peculiar thing, which strengthens my opinion, has been bi-ought under my notice. Three men who were born and brought up in the vicinity of Dunedin, who wore taught their trade as slaughtermen at the Burnside works, and who are admitted to lie first-class men, wore sent up by the company from Burnside to Smithfield to meet the requirements for more butchers at the latter place. When these Southern butchers arrived the men at the Smithfield works absolutely refused to work with them, on the grounds that they went back to work too soon, thereby helping to defeat the men’s demands. The butchers had to return to Dunedin. They did not start work at Smithfield at all. Mr Aliller was asked if he thought

that the slaughtermen’s strikes in the meat freezing centres of the-co-lony had effected the principle of tho Arbitration Act. “No,” he said.

“The principle has not suffered, as far as my experience goes, and I have met many of the leading trades unionists in the colony. I here is almost a unanimous consensus of opinion that the Act is a good one. The unionists have no desire whatever to see anything done that would ’ll anyway injure it. The complaint throughout the length and breadth of tho colony is that, owing to the inability of the Court to deal promptly with disputes, a great deal of ininecccssary friction has risen, and a feeling has grown up that the qsefulness of the Court is impaired to such an extent as to lie of little service to the unions. That is the only complaint I hear at the present time. It is admitted by everybody that it is necessary to provide greater facilities for disputes being settled as soon as practicable after they arise,”

Press AssociationAUCKL A .VI), yesterday. At the Arbitration Court, the Tailors’ Union charged Alacky, Logan, Caldwell and Company with committing a breach of the tailors’ award in that they failed to make as factory made in the prescribed manner a suit ordered by John Court, that the words “factory made” were not stamped or printed on the hanger-up of the coat or in the waistband lining of the trousers. Air. C. J. Parr, who appeared for respondents, submitted that the case was nexcess of the jurisdetion of the Court, in that the clause of the award under which it was brought was ultra vires, not being concerned with an industrial dispute, but protecting one branch of trade against another. Air. Justice Chapman had so ruled when application was made to include a similar clause in the Wellington award. It was shown that although tho Wellington awards were not on the hanger-up they were stitched on the coat, and that the label had been removed from the trousers, the stitching being still observable. “Did you advise tile Union to bring this case ?” asked His Honor of ATr. Prendergast, who appeared for the Union “It was brought before I advised them,” -was the reply. “It would have been better if you had advised them not to bring it- at qll,” said

His Honor. Mr. i’reiulci-gnst: That label can bo cut off. His Honor: So can tlio banger-tip. Tho label is more permanent. Tho ease is a waste of time. It should never have been brought. The ease was then dismissed, costs £2 2s and witnesses’ expenses being allowed. Asimilar ease was brought against F. AE King on the ground that the garment concerned was stamped “factory Hindis equal to tailor made.” Air. Rreiidorgnst submitted that two words only should appear. His Honor ruled otherwise, but pointed out tlmt tile words “tailor made” wore much larger tliau “lactory made.” “I think you are sailing very close to the wind,” His Honor said. “It Inis not been done since the mutter was pointed out,” replied Air. King. The case was dismissed.