WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 7 May 1907, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

WOOLWICH WORKERS. Press Association. —-Copyright. LONDON, Aiay 5. The AVoolwich workmen arc petit| oiling and sending a deputation to King Edward against their continued discharge. Germany is paying some of the men discharged from AVoolwich wages of £6. weekly., Press Association. AUCKLAND TRAMWAY STRIKE. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The hearing of the charge of the breach of award against the Tramway Company was resumed tins morning. The Hon. J. A. Tole addressing the Court in support of the case for the Inspector of Awards, said the parties wore bound not only by the law of master and servant, but by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The whole fallacy about his friend’s case was his assumption that it was the men s duty to do something which they considered was a voluntary .act. The whole stand taken by the men was that they refused to continue obliging the Company by instructing learners until a grievance was settled, Even assuming that the men’s duty m eluded-the instruction of learners a refusal to do so would not constitute sufficient ground for * n_ ; stant dismissal from the service,’ : which the Company made the basis * of its action. ' It was not in the : award, not in the hook of rules, and I* not in any written contract. The definition of “worker” in the Arlii-

tration Act was “anyone employed to do manual labor or clerical work, but tutorical work was not within i that scope, and was tlierofore outside a binding award. Mr. Tele called attention to the change which had j taken place in the Company's rules i since tlio troublo. Tho old rule regarding loarnors read, “Before appointment they must practise in the

car until they are considered competent.” Now this had been deleted for a new rule inserted, ‘‘They must prnctiso in the ear with the employe intructed to teach tliom.” The objoct was to make it universally understood that there was to be an instructor. This showed that it was not contemplated originally that it should bo part of the men’s duty. In the form of application for employment half a dozen grounds for instant dismissal wore mentioned, but refusing to instruct learners was not specified. The whole affair was the result of provocation by tlio company. It was a high-handed action which was taken by the Company. All they had to do was to temporise wjith the men, as the men were endeavoring to temporise with them, saying they would rather not, and would under the circumstances refuso. ‘‘lt was,” Mr. Tele concluded, ‘‘a deliberate and premeditated assault, upon the loyalty of tho men to each other.” Tho President intimated that judgment was reserved. The charges against two employees, who will plead guilty to taking a part in a movement calculated to result in a 'strike, are being hoard.

STATIONERY WORKERS’ « AWARD. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The Arbitration Court adopted the agreement between tlio Bookbinders’, Paper Rulers’, and Cutters’ Union and tbo employers. It provides for a week of -IS hours, competent jour’ neymen rulers and binders to got fc'3 a week, first cutters 555,. second cutters 50s, third cutters 37s 6d, other cutters 30s. Any cutter taken off guillotine work to do journeymen binders’ work gets £3 per week for tho time so occupied. Casual labor is to bo paid Is 4Jd per hour, overtime time and a quarter, with double time on Sundays, Christmas Daj, Good Friday, and timo and a half on five annual holidays. Apprentices to i;l/jb' 7s 6d a week the first year, 10s 6d the second year, 15s the third, 20s the fourth, 25s the fifth, 30s the sixth, year.

SLAUGHTERMEN’S AWARDS. AUCKLAND, yesterday,

The President of the Court suggested to the parties to the Auckland slaughtermen’s dispute, that in view of the publication of the Gisborne award, an agreement might be arranged. It was stated the employees would consider tho Gisborne award this evening. Mr. Bust, representing the Butchers’ Union, asked for the butchers’ award, terminating in June, 1909, to be annulled, with a view to bringing it in line with the southern awards. The President replied that the Court could not go into the matter. If it had made the award without jurisdiction the remedy was for one of the parties to apply to the Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition. Mr. Bust withdrew his application.

RAILWAY WORKERS DISMISSED.

CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday

' j Two fitters at Addington Work- - i shops, who recently refused to work ’ i overtime, into whose conduct an in- | quiry will be held, have been dismissed the service. The case excited ! a good deal of interest in labor cir- ’ cles, and was referred to at a Social- ! ist meeting held at the Cathedral ! Squaro last night. • PRODUCING A STRIKE. AUCKLAND, yesterday. Arising out of the tramway trou- ■ hie in Auckland last November, when tlie service was suspended for several ■ hours, Sydney Michael. Farrelly. 1 tramway motorman, and Edward E. ■ Fletclior, conductor, were charged i before the Arbitration Court to-day ; with having taken part in a move- ' ment intended to produce a strike - or lockout. They pleaded guilty. ■ The representative of the Inspector i of Awards’said the movement was s not supported by the Union. There ■ were 30 motormen and 35 conductors ■ who struck work. Counsel for re--5 spondents, in asking for mitigation , of -the penalty, said the men had ! grievances and the Company acted 1 'in a reprehensible manner, though 5 trouble might have been averted by 1 the exercise of tact. The Court rc- > served its decision.

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY WELLINGTON, last night.

The Wellington Tailorosses’ and Prossers’ Union to-niglit passed the following resolution: “That the New Zealand Factories Act for the piotoction of women and children is the best factory act in the world, and that this Union regrets that Mr. Hogg, M.H.R., for Masterton, should go so far out of bis way as to write to tbe Minister for Labor in the interests of parties and ask the -Minister- not 1 to enforce theSaturday- lialf-boliday clause in country districts.”