INCOMPETENT WORKMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 25 September 1907, Page 2

INCOMPETENT WORKMEN.

SOME INTERESTING EVIDENCE. Per Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The Arbitration Court to-day heard the hairdressers' and carpenters' disputes. _ During the latter, a witness for the union said there were seven hundred carpenters in Dunedin and suburbs in the trade, of whom four hundred were incompetent men; yet witness stated that only one.hundred and ten of these had permits, and three hundred were working for less wages without permits. There was also an unlimited number of uuindentured lads, of whom cheap contractors in the suburbs were making use. Only twenty or thirty lads were apprenticed altogether. Incompetent men were working for from 5s to 8s per day. They were members of the trade section of the union.

Mr. Scott (employers' representative): What is your union doing to allow this? Witness: We are almost helpless in the matter. We -would need to have two or three men on the road lookine after them. b

Mr. Brown: The inspectors would do that.

Later the secretary of the union gave somewhat similar evidence.

Mr. Scott: I feel that a very o-ravc slander has been cast on the Labor Department and the employers of Dunedin by this evidence. Have you ever reported this condition of affairs to the Department?

Witness: Yes. We have done so lately. Mr. Scott: When? Witness: During the last twelve months.

Mr. Scott':, Have you reported about these incompetent men and "unlimited unindentured boys"? Witness: Yes.

Mr. Scott: What was the result? Witness: The inspector informed me that he was busy, and that after this sitting of the Court he would make a systematic search amongst all the builders.

Mr. Scott: It is the most astonishing statement I have heard.in the Arbitration Court since I have been connected with.it.