WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 30 April 1907, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

WORKERS AT WOOLWICH. Press Association. —Copyright. Received April 29, 10.25 p.-in. LONDON, April 29. It is proposed to make 3285 discharges at Woolwich in the next half-year, when the personnel will reach the minimum of 10,000. (I’cr Press Association.) ENGINE DRIVERS’ AWARD AUCKLAND, last night. A deputation from the Engine Driver’ Union waited upon the Hon. J A. Millar. Alinister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinery Department, to-day, with reference to the award under which t lte_ Union is working. Mr. Ban field pointed out that owing to the large number of exemptions under the other awards, very few members of the Union worked under tlieir own award. The result was that the Union was of littlo use to its members. He suggested that an amendment -should be made in the law whereby, on tlie expiry of existing awards, all engine drivers no matter where working, should coine under the operation of tlieir own award.

The Alinister pointed out that in tlie ease of steamship and engine drivers a special certificate was required, and an exemption was therefore necessary. With regard to other cases he suggested that the Union should make an application to the Arbitration Court lylien the awards of the different trades came up lor renewal, for the exclusion of engine drivers from the separate awards, so that they could come under their 1 own award. I Air. Banfield said that such an application had been refused at Waihi a fortnight previously. I The Alinister pointed out that this was probably due to the fact that a

separate certificate was required under the Alining Act. Tho deputation stated that they would adopt tho Alinister’s suggestion. m A PECULIAR POSITION. WELLINGTON, last night. Tho Conciliation Board sat to-day to hoar a dispute in tho timber workers’ trade. During the proceedings Air. Grenfell. secretary of the Employers’ Association, asked the Chairman whether Air. Andrew Collins, who had signed the application for reference „t the dispute to the Board in his capacity of secretary to the Timber Workers’ Union, was the saino gentleman of that name who occupied a scat on tho Board. TlicChairinan replied in the affirmative. . *M r . Grenfell thereupon expressed the opinion that it was contrary to custom, and hardly compatible with justice, that a man should occupy a judicial position and at tho sumo time act as a secretary to an employees’ union. As secretary of tho I’iinbcr AVorkers’ Union, Air. Collins could not. in this dispute, bo other than a partisan. Air. Collins assorted that lie had j taken no parti in drawing up tho : claims. He was an honorary officer of the union anil drew no salary. | There was nothing in the Act to stop , him sitting as a member •of tho Board. Tho representative of tho Union i said Air. Collins had nothing to do with tho men’s claims. His signature to tho application for the hearing of , tho dispute was required by the rules * of the Union and the Act. The Chairman said the matter was one for the Legislature to deal with.

RECALCITRANT BUTCHERS. PURISTCHURCH, last night, Trouble is boing experienced by the ollieers of the Government in collecting the fines imposed by tho Arbitration Court oil the slaughtermen who went out on strike recently at the Islington and Pareora freezing works. A number of the men have paid up, hut some of them decline to pay or to make wlmt is considered a reasonable effort to meet the lines by instalments. Every effort has been made to have matters satisfactorily »t.tied, but in a minority of the cases without avail so far. It is, therefore, very probable that at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Timaru and Christchurch the defaulters will be cited to-appear before the Court to show reason why a writ of attachment should J.ot be issued against them.

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAV INVERCARGILL, last night

At a meeting of the Southland Trades and Labor Council the delegates expressed thenieslvos favorable ijo the recent action taken by the Minister for Labor to enforce the provision of tlie Factories Act re the Saturday half-holiday. INVERCARGILL, last night. By a public meeting called by the Alayor at tlie request of the Employers’ Association, bold to-uiglit, it was resolved to protest against the proposed enforcement of the Factories Act as regards the Saturday halfholiday. Air. Ha nan, AI.H.R,, who was present, was requested to take •steps to secure an alteration of the Act and it was decided that a copy of tho resolution lie sent to the Alinistor of Labor. Air. Hanan expressed himself in favor of a /universal Saturday half-holiday, but under the circumstances advocated a district referendum on the matter. DAIRY WORKERS’ UNION. INVERCARGILL, last night. Tho Southland Trades .and Labor Council, acting on a suggestion from Taranaki, has decided to take steps at tlie beginning of next season to form a union of workers in milk, cheese and butter factories in Southland.