WORK AND WAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8, 3 September 1912, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

(Per Press Association.) THE STRIKE SETTLED. Thames, September 2. The difficulty at the Sylvia mine, Tararu, near the Thames, has been overcome. The Waihi engine-driver, to whose employment objection was raised, has joined the Thames Minors' Union, and will obtain 'has clearance from the Waihi Union. This has satisfied the men, who will resume work to-morrow morning as usual. FURNITURE WORKERS' DISPUTE AN AGGRESSIVE UNION. Wellington, September 2.

The Wellington Furniture Workers' Union waited on Mr Massey as Minister of Labour to-day. Mr Moriarity, the principal speaker, spoke for over an hour in opposition to the ruling of the Customs Department that it had no power to stop the use of pyridine in methylated spirits. Tlhe union objected to the use of pyridine, as it affected the eyes of the worker who used spirit in polishing furniture. The secretary of Customs, in a letter, stated that the union should insist that methylated spirit without pyridine should bo supplied by employers for polishing. Mr Moriarity considered that it was practically an incitement to strike by the Minister in charge of the department. Mr Massey said that Mr Fisher had probably never seen tho letter. Mr Moriarity urged the Government to withdraw the regulation, as, if the use of pyridine was not stopped, the Furniture Workers' Federation would have to take extreme steps. Mr Moriarit proceeded strongly to criticise the decisions of tho President of Ai titration Court, who, he said, had gone back on protons judgments and done more for the Federation of Labour than all the rest of the workers in the country. Mr Moriarity declared that it was "up to those in po.\ er to removo him from the bench."

Mr Massey: You must not refer disrespectfully to judges of the Court. You must not ask me as Prime Minister to remove this man.

Mr Moriarity said tliat lie left tlie Prime Minister to -settle that in his own way. Ho also criticised tlh© Labour Department. Mr Massey, in reply, -said he thought that the deputation had a grievance in regard to methylated 'spirits, and ho would see whether it could be put right. He added that he would have preferred to deal with tlh© matter if Mr Moriarity had not said what he did as a threat. Mr Moriarity disclaimed making any threat. AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS. Wellington,■. September 2. At h meeting to-day ,«f the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: -a communiciitibn dealing with the condition of affairs at Waihi came up for consideration. The secretary of the Waihi Drivers’ Defence Fund, Auckland, wrote asking for the support of the public for members of the Waihi Drivers’ Union during the time of the striket. The -appeal, after setting out the facts of the case, enclosed a form guaranteeing so .much for so long for the support of the wives and children of the sufferers. It was asked that the appeal should be circulated amongst the members of the Chamber. . The chairman (Mr Mabin) said that their sympathies were with the men. Mr Jones said that he considered the endorsement of the appeal was a highly political action, which aimed at smashing the Federation of Labour. He thought they, as a Chamber, should not take any such action. Mr Ballinger held that the Chamber should uphold the union. They were fighting what was an illegal action, to prevent men from working, and he thought it was their duty to help those men. It was decided that a list of members of the Chamber should be supplied to the applicants ,so that a direct appeal could be made.