WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 143, 13 December 1911, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

STRIKE AT GISBORNE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. Yesterday the employees on the Harbor Boai'd's dredge Maui made an application for an increase in wages. The Board pointed out that they were cited hv the Laborers' Union before the Arbitration Court. Therefore the matter was sub jiidice. This morning ten men decided to cease work in the evening, being dissatisfied with the reply. The Board took action, and have applied for further men to fill the places of those striking. The trouble is not considered likely to spread, and the men, seeing ; the action of the Board, may apply for reinstatement. __J ■ WHARF TROUBLE AT LYTTELTON. Christchurcli, Last Night. The Lyttelton wharf laborers to-day decided, out of sympathy with the Timam workers, not to work the Wairuna from Timaru with part of a cargo of Newcastle coal. Work is slack 011 the sea front, but the men are firm in their refusal to work the collier pending receipt of definite information from Timaru. In consekuence of this trouble, the Blackball Company's Ngahere has been ordered to proceed to Wellington from Greymoutli, instead, of coming direct to Lyttelton and Timaru. • TIMARU STRIKE EXTENDS. LABORERS AND A CHINESE CREW. PREMIER'S ADVICE SOUGHT. Timaru, Last Night. The wharf strike extended to-day, as the men employed by the, Railway Department on the wharves refused to handle trucks of Oregon timber slung by the Chinese crew of the steamer Anerley. The permanent railway hands were then sent to the wharf. A deputation of strikers waited 'on the Mayor to protest against this, and Mr. Craigie wired to the Premier their request that it be stopped. The consignees of the timber offered to pay the rates demanded by the strikers, but the latter refused except under a general agreement with all shipping agents. To-night the Mayor received a wire from the. Premier, saying he was getting the facts, and could not allow the railwaymen to work with a Chinese crew. He must have full facts before dealing with the matter. She steamer Pakeha, which should have loaded 2000 bales of wool, has gone to Wellington without it. It is expected that the strike, if not settled, will have a 'bad influence on the local wool sale fixed for Friday. In arguing their claims the men say the full demands are to add' only 4d a ton to coal, 3d a ton to general cargo, and Id per bale of wool or 10,000 ft. of timber. SMALL SHEARING STRIKE. Masterton, Last Night. 'A strike of shearers occurred at Brancepeth station, qear Masterton, last week, when eight men demanded 2s fid per 100 more than the 20s offered, be- ' cause they said the sheep were dirty. The men departed and others were taken on. The matter will be brought under the notice of the Labor Department, with a view to proceedings being taken.