WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 16 May 1907, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

HOLIDAYS FOB, FACTORIES. Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Minister of Labor informs Mr. Hogg, M.H.8., that he cannot suspend .the Factories Act regarding holidays, but an oarly opportunity will be given members next session to amend the Act if it' is thought desirable.

FOSTERING INDUSTRIES. AVELLINGTON, yesterday. The local Industrial Association, after some 18 months’ deliberation and discussion, has sent in a report to the Government, which embodies the decisions arrived at. The report includes recommendations received from other associations. Generally speaking it is in favor of taking off or reducing tjio tariff on some articles of food; sugar, for instance, by 3s per cwt. To protect the engineering industry a tariff of 33i per cent, is suggested on machinery, which cannot' be made with advantage in the colony. An increase is recommended on candles, the manufacture of which is said to bo languishing under the present tariff.

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

mi , AUCKLAND, 1/kst night. . Ine Arbitration Court to-day continued the hearing of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ industrial dispute.

Mr. TV. G.- Smith addressed the Court on behalf of the employers, who were anxious to establish the Wellington award in Auckland. The employers offered most uncompromising opposition to the proposed preference to unionists. If the men had to put half-a-crown and an application form for union membership into a box before.they could get employment the light-fingered gentry who seemed to be doing such a tremendous amount of stealing around the wharves would find it out, and the money and applications would disappear. Preference only .existed in one other award in the colony, namely, at Greymouth, where it was only granted through the mistake of a Union Company’s official. The President said the evidence of the Union Company’s man at" Westport Was that the Greymouth and Westport award worked extremely well. Any inconvenience caused by the engagement of men at Chelsea could be obyiated by confining preference to the Auckland wharves. Mr. Smith •: replied that he would take his stand on a question-of principle. The employers objected to preference, 'and would fight it to the last. *-

Representations were made by carrying firms that their wharf employees on weekly wages should not be subject to the proposed award, and as the union offered no objection the President intimated that this matter would; be covered when the award was made. Mr. Wav addressed the Court on behalf of the men’s demands, and replying to the suggestion that new members’ subscriptions might be pilfered from tlie application box, said that expe’rienceiin Wellington showed that as unionism was greater there was more honesty on tlie wharf. Ine Union was prepared to deal very severely with Members responsible tor discrepancies. He explained that the award did not apply to Onelninga, but at a future date tlie union rules would he amended so as to enable Onehunga to be brought under an award. . , Tlio- Court’s judgment was reserved.