Annals of Toil

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 45, 19 January 1912, Page 4

Annals of Toil

Tlie varders employed at the Wellington Moat Export Co. at Ngahauranga struck for 3d an hour increase in their pay last week. The nien are not members of any union.

The Wellington cooks and waiters come before the Conciliation Commissioner this week.

Towards tho end of the present month tho plumbers' di&pu-be will come before tho Conciliation Council at \\ anganui and Palmerston North.

Tho demands of the cooks and stewards of the smaller coastal steamers are. to come before the Conciliation Council at Wellington this morning. * *

A conference of all the plasterers unions throughout the Dominion will bo commenced in Auckland on February 12 next for tho purpose of forming a federation to try and obtain uniform conditions for all in the trade in New Zealand.

Frtis'h tenders are to be called for cutting the 7000 ft. tunnel from Lako Coleridge to tho llakaia river, which is required in connection with tho Lako Coleridge hydro-electrical scheme. Tenders wore called some time ago, but tho only one received was rejected as being too high. The power-house, which is to be constructed, will lie, roughly, 70 miles distant from Christchurch. Tenders iaro to be called shortly for oil tho maohinory required. Tho Minister for Public Works anticipates that the work may be completed in 18 months, and he is confident that there will be no difficulty in transmitting power from Lake Coleridge as far as Timaru.

The inquiry into the cliargos against Inspector Fuller ended abruptly by the men's representatives withdrawing from the conference* through an alleged breach of the original agreement.

The Wellington building trades laborers and employers have practically settled thir dispute. The Union asked for Is 3d per hour and Is 4d for scaffolding work,, the old rates being le l-J-d and Is 2£d respectively. A 44-Jiour week was also sought as against 45 Lri tho old award. The agreement subsequently arrived at provides for wages at Is 2d and Is 3d —the latter for scaffolding.

A conference of the Shipbuilders' Federation and the Workmen's Federation, held at Carlisle (Kng.) mutually agreed to discuss the discharge notes system on January IS, provided the strikers resume work at once.

Tho British Postmen's Federation has formulated demands for .submission to a Select Committee. They include an eiglit hours' day, increased recognition of unions, increase , ! wages to a standard basod on the cost of living, and restoration of civil rights.

Owing to the refus.il of the Railway Commissioner of Westralia to grant the demands of the engineers and ironworkers employed by tho department for an increase from 7s to 13s peT day, the men have ceased work.

A strike is in progress among tho railwayman of the Argentine. The men refused the. Minister of the Interior's intervention. They demand better working conditions and increased pay.

The barmen and barmaids of West Australia have decided to decline to board on tho premises of their employers. The idea is that greater liberty will result from tho move. In addition, thoy aro not attended to in the same manner as they would bo if boarding elsewhere.

There are at present 70 firms in England practising profit-sharing with their employees.

Slapping companies in England are making preparations for a big war on tho unions of labor. * * *

A.-s a oequel to the strike of the metal workers in Berlin, the masters have locked out GO,OOO hands. • * •

Tho great cotton thread combine, J. and 1\ Coatee, Ltd., has declared another enormous dividend for tin , year ending June 30 last. Tlsc profits amount u> £3,102,285, or about 100 per cent, on the capital invested. And the workers get starvation wages. * • *

The members of the South Australian police force have decided to join the army of reform, and have formed a union, which'is tho first of its kind in the world. As far back as December, 1910, permission was given by Labor Premier Vorran for the police to organise, and tho r.ewly-fonncd union is the result. It b not stated if the new union will throw in its lot with tho Trades Hall or Federated Labor Unions, but it is very probable that it will do so. Tho object of the union is to look after the interests of the police force and generally improve their conditions.

In a report furnished at the request of the N.S.W. Minister for Mines by Mr. Jaquet, Chief Mining Inspector at Broken Hill, it is shown that during the years from 1898 to 1910, both inclusive, 221 men were killed in the mines of that district. The average number of men employed during that time was 0691.

For a considerable time the London fcraniwa.vmen havo been urging an increase of wages and a better system of working. It has been agreed fto do away as far as possible with tho ; 'spread over" time system;, the wages of point shifters are to be raised from 2(>s to 27s ; strappers from 28s to 29s ; drivers who are learning arc to receive lialfpay for three weeks, and conductors for two weeks—this was formerly unpaid for.

The British Postmaster-General has promised that he will bring before tho House of Commons the grievances of the postmen. G. H. Stuart, the chairman of tho PostiiK'ii'b Ji'odoraciou., is urging tho immediate appointment of a select committee to inquire into tho claims and grievances of the postal employees.