WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18854, 21 June 1920, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

THE MELBOURNE STRIKE. < BRIGHTER PROSPECTS. 1 (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) i (Australian ant! N.Z. fable Association.) j MELBOURNE, June 19. The strike prospects are brighter. Restoration of the electrical current for industrial 1 purposes is expected to considerably reduce ’ the unemployed list. Individual employers 1 are adjusting differences independently, ; thereby securing exemption from the black ] list. Negotiations are commencing with a view i to settling the gas dispute. The Chamber of Manufacturers’ Disputes Committee urges the employers to stick out and not use the power supplied by employers who gave in. WIRELESS OPERATORS’ STRIKE. BOATS PERMITTED TO SAIL WITHOUT THEM. LONDON, June 19. (Received Juuc 20, 5.5 p.m.) In view of the wireless operators' strike, the Board of Trane is permitting vessels to sail without them, on condition that intending passenger are notified that oper- . ators are not carried. { ' I AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOUR, j MR GOMPERS AGAIN PRESIDENT. j NEW YORK. June 18. (Received June 20, 5.5 p.m.' t Mr Samuel Gompers was unanimously re- i elected president of the American Federa- | tion of Labour at its convention in Mon- ■ treat. 1 AFFAIRS IN MEW ZEALAND. j SHORTAGE OF APPRENTICES. I MINISTER OF EDUCATION’S VIEWS, j (Special to the Times), | CHRISTCHURCH, June IS, The acute shortage of apprentices in | many skilled trades was discussed with the , Minister of Education to-day by the painters’ ' deputation that waited on him. One of the ; deputation stated that it was not a matter for surprise that only twelve painter’s apprentices were receiving instruction at the , special classes provided for them, because 1 in the plastering trade apprentices simply 1 could not be had and not a single youth j had been indentured to a mason in Christ- < church for 19 years past. Another mem- | her remarked that most of the hoys seemed , to be taking up electrical work. It was | impossible to get them for any work of a | messy kind. Others wanted to take up office work. I The Minister remarked that the situation j gave food for thought. It almost led one I to suppose that the dominion’s education j i system gave boys too literary a bias. The , i Minister added that it was part of his job Ito try to counteract any influences that , ' tended to make boys look to office work j | rather than to more useful labour in the ; skilled handicrafts. 1