WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18849, 15 June 1920, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

BRITISH ENGINEERING TRADE. GIGANTIC LOCKOUT THREATENED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (.Australian and N.Z. Cable Association .) LONDON, June 12. The National News says that a privatemeeting of employers in engineering trades held in Edinburgh decided to resist all demands for further increases in wages and to close down all works, creating a gigantic lockout, unless the latest demands arc withdrawn. MELBOURNE GAS STRIKE. THE UNION’S DEMANDS. STRIKE TO BE FOUGHT TO THE END. MELBOURNE, June M. Mr Justice Higgins, failing to effect a compulsory conference, stated that the Gas Workers’ Union had sought increases from the companies who agreed to an increase of a shilling a day which, in addition to a shilling a day increase in December, made 12/- increase weekly since May, 11? IU. The union wanted another shilling but the company refused to give it. Unskilled labourers were offered Us a day but on the latest statistics, in making an award he would not feel justified in proscribing so much. The Premier, in appealing to the public, intimated that the strike would he fought to the end. No section would be permitted to dislocate industrial sen-ices. Cold storage meat to the value of £1,500,000 is exposed to destruction owing to the withdrawal of electricity for refrigerating purposes. MELBOURNE IN DARKNESS. ELECTRIC TRAM SERVICES SUSPENDED. SHORTAGE OF FUEL. MELBOURNE, June 14. (Received June 14, 10.40 p.mj Tito city is ,n almost total darkness! I-lares are being used at railway stations and hurricane lamps in public buildings. The congregations in the churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights. A limited supply of electricity is available, but is not -sufficient to enable factories to carry on. Voluntary workers at the gasworks are engaged in getting up. a supply. The coal and coke at the gasworks has been declared black and may not be removed. The trouble may extend to the trams, as owing to the employment of a non-unionist driver on one service the men threaten to cease work. It is also probable that the wharf labourers will refuse to handle coal for the gasworks. ddie electric trams services are suspended, thousands of people having to walk. The great fear at present is for the sewerage. If the engineers of this service carry their threat into execution and cease work The dismal outlook is made worse by the fuel shortage and steady rain which set in yesterday.

DARK CLOUDS LOOMING IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, June 14. (Received June 14, 10.40 p.mj Dark clouds arc looming on the industrial horizon, and anything may happen in the next, day or two owing to Melbourne coal being, declared black, but the union officials arc doing their best to prevent a catastrophe. AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND GAS EMPLOYEES, A SECRET BALLOT. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 14. A secret btillot to decide whether the offer of the employers in respect to the demand for increased wages will be accepted or not, and in the event of its being rejected whether they will favour adopting extreme measures to secure the Union's claims, is at present being taken by the members of the Auckland Gas Employees’ Union. The ballot papers, which were issued on June If), are returnable before to-morrow evening at o o’clock. At a special meeting of the Union held mi June 0, some 220 members attending, the company’s offer was rejected. The engineer and manager of the company was advised accordingly, and further notified that a ballot of all the members was being taken to confirm or otherwise the resolu- ■ ion. CLOTHING TRADE AWARD. DUNEDIN, June 14. The order of the Arbitration Conn amending the New Zealand factory clothing trade award, has been filed. Tailoress.es have been granted a bonus of 5s a week, and cutters, pressers and male machinists are awarded a bonus of 2id per hour. Male apprentices receive a bonus addition of as a week. The Court added the following memorandum : "The union sought in this application to have basic wages reviewed by the Court, but this tho Court declines to do, leaving the matter to be considered upon application for a new award.” TV POG RAPIIICA I. AW AR D. APPLICATION EOR AMENDMENT. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. Before the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr C. Renn asked the Court to fix a date for the hearing of an application by the Typographical Association for an amendment of its dominion award. He mentioned that the employers concerned were the newspaper proprietors, the master printers, and the related printing trades. The Court agreed to hoar the application on Juno 21. THE TARATU MINERS. | DUNEDIN, June 14. 1 The Taratu coalminers, numbering nearly 100, resumed work to-day after a fortnight’s absence.