TRADE AND LABOR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 76, 2 April 1902, Page 4

TRADE AND LABOR.

— ♦ Press -Association. Electric Telegraph, Copyright. Dunedin, April 1. The Victoria Labor Commission met this morning in the Supreme Court, all the members being present, and also Mr Tregear. Evidence was given by Mr William Scott, President of the Master Tailors' Society and vice-Pre-sident of the Otago Employers' Association, the main contention of the evidence being that the Arbitration Act had undoubtedly increased the } co3t of living. Many amendments could undoubtedly be made in it, but at the same time he preferred working under the Act to no Act at all. Mr Bobert Fergusson, Secretary of the Bootmakers' Union and a member of the Otago Conciliation Board, said the Acfc had abolished strikes and established a kindly feeling between employers and employees. He was strongly in favor of a preference clause for Unionists. He stated that in the boot trade there had been a decrease in the number of hands employed of 25 per cent, owing to the introduction of machinery. Mr Belcher, Secretary of the Seamen's Union, considered that the Act was fa benefit to the worker and the country at large. He also believed in Conciliation Boards as necessary, but would not increase their powers. He tastified to the kindly foaling between employers and employees. He did not believe that the Act was breaking down. He opposed solicitors acting in the Arbitration Court.