WORK AND WAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 81, 12 April 1913, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

QUESTION OF APPRENTICES

[Per Press Association.] Dunedin, April 10

An interesting point was raised at the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon during the, hearing of a case in which Inspector Hollows, of . the Labor Department, sought to recover from George Moody, hairdresser, £lO as a penalty for a breach of the Dunedin Hairdressers’ Association’s, .award, in that from January 30 to March 5 he employed two apprentices to two journeymen, the proportion of apprentices to journeymen befiig more than stipulated in the award. Mr Payne appeared for the defendant. Mr Hollows explained that the defendant had two saloons] and that in one sa ; loon two journeymen and two apprentices were employed, while two journeymen were, employed in the other. The Department contended that the saloons were distinctly ..separate, and the (‘employees in each shop were ex’clustvely employed in either shop. Mr Payne submitted that the defendant carried on business in two shops, and ■by, reason of that fact had two journeymen, besides himself, in each simp, .and if he had fiye journeymen in his business he was entitled to have apprentices. Ho contended that the award was between employers and &ffp!Byees in respect of fra'cle 5 , Wild hot an award in respect of business. After hearing argument, Mr , Widdowson, S.M., reserved his decisfpn.

' THE MINIMUM WAGE,

. DEBATE .IN THE COMMONS. Lopdon, April 10. ’’ In the House of Commons, Mr W. Crooks moved for an extension of the Tfade Boards Act to afford minimum wages of 30s a week (to every adult worker in urban areas, and approximately an equal standard to every adult worker in rural areas. He said that the nation was wealthy, and could afford, to pay, and some day the workers would make them pay.

Mr Percy Alden moved an amendment that the House would welcome legislation fixing a minimum where wages were below subsistence point. Mr J. Robertson ‘declared that a universal minimum was an absolute destruction of the whole principle of trade boards. Two hundred millions would be required to secure a 30s minimum. The arbitrary creation of a minimum wage would never attain the object in view. HANDLING OF COAL. Sydney, April 10. The Coal Lumpers’ Union discussed. whether to refuse to handle coal from tlio collieries owned by the South Coast proprietors, and that no ships coaled with Newcastle coal which used southern coal in times of commercial peace. An amendment vas carried that the Union continue working until members are asked to handle nonunion coal. CAR STRIKE IN BUFFALO. New York, April 10. A strike of International Railway Carmen at Buffalo led to riots. The troops charged the crowd with bayonets. During the melee three persons

were wounded. The situation is serious, and additional troops have been called out. The street cars are not running. MINERS WILLING TO RESUME. Sydney, April 10. A meeting of the South Coast miners resolved that Mr Carmichael’s terras of settlement were fair, and accepted them. It is stated that if' the employers accept, the miners are ready to resume work on Monday. the barrier strike. Sydney, April 10. The Barrier mines' are gradually closing, owing to want of supplies and means of transit. Over 2000 mine workers are idle. The general position is unchanged.