THE LABOUR WORLD.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1924, Page 3

THE LABOUR WORLD.

WORKERS TAKE ACTION'. BY TEI-KORAI'Il —PRESS assn., copyright. SYDNEY, Mart'll 3. The Dispute Committee of the Trades Council, lias declared the steamer Araluen black. The unionists repairing the vessel have stopped work, and they decline to resume unless an understanding is given, that extensive repairs which they declare to he necessary tire finished with unionist labour. The Trades Hall contends that the repairs done so far are insignificant, and are only enough to (firry flic vessel to Kolie. Japan, where it will Tie necessary to spend large .slims in thoroughly repairing her. STRIKES IN EGYPT. [“The Times” Service.] LONDON, March 5. A Cairo correspondent of the “Times” reports that strikes and occupation of factories by the workers continue to be the order of the day at Alexandria. A day seldom passes without some new trouble, though hitherto there has been no instances of serious violence, except, when the police were overpowered while attempting to prevent the strikers entering the works. A struggle followed in which several were injured. Eventually the strikers were persuaded to leave peacefully. The Vacuum Oil Company’s women struck yesterday, endeavouring to soigo the depot which the police prevented. Raids on the houses Of supposed Communists continue with a few arrests.

NATERSIDERS’ AWARD DISPUTED WELLINGTON. AljtrcJt 5. Application u'a« made to the Arbitration Court this morning by the National Dispute Committee of waterside labour lor reconsideration of its interpretation of the clause governing tlio payment ol oil rates to top men. and men in trucks, on the ground that material evidence mjis now available which "'ax not submitted to the Court at the i time when the previous application for interpretation muis made.

•Mr Bennett, for the employers, said it m ips understood -1 >v those mho dicM' op the original claims on behalf of Die employers that the employers desired the men handling a less quantity than I (I) eases ol kerosene or benzine below l.al' In's, should not receive the oil rate. Having regard to this intention, the employers' representative agreed, when th ■ dispute lirst mine before tho miDonal committee, with the natersiders’ ((intention that the top men iiiul men mi the wharves and trucks should receive the oil rale. The Court upset thr •h vision of the Committee and denied the top men the oil nitc. The emp'oyers had no intention of depriving them of the oil rate.

The Judge said the Court could not emend the ;i«aid ndthout the eonsenl of both parties, and if all agreed to the alteration, and submitted a piopcrh worded clause, the Court Mould consider it. EMPLOYERS' CASK. WELLINGTON. Abin h A. In the maritime dispute, a strong protest against the preference clause was made by Air Smith (Employees). He maintained that n had ceased to operate as from the commencement of the fits! maritime strike. He submitted that the l niiiii had loileiti'd all claim tr a preference ehnise. A contiiuia.tion of the provisions leguhiting stop v.-nrk meeting iLo stmnrl’ opposed. It was contended that th* holding of there Mould not only cause delay, hut the principle was wrong. On the subject of uages. Air Smith sjiid the New Zealand ship-owners iv ere at a serious disadvantage compared Mi’ll Great Britain, where the rate was lower. Canada, Germany, and Denmark also paid seamen Ic.-.x. Gerinan ships had rc-cutercd the Australian trade, and the wages of the crews, on the present rate exchange, amounted only to As per month. Unless Something were done to enable Yen Zealand ship.-, to compete with outside vessels on more level terms, ihe former Mould lie driven out. of the trade. As regards overtime, lie said Die employers had made proportionate reductions in this, paying 2s ;iu hour now, M-herens they might, have only paid Is llVld as authorised. In supporting the emphrers’ claim that the mi'll should submit themselves for ;i medical examination. 1)" \V. (liesen said that this mjis very desirable, for the sake of the men themselves. It would benefit the employers also, as it Mould prevent- a great loss through inefficiency. The Court rose till to-mnrrmv.