WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 241, 11 April 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

AX AUCKLAND CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. ' | Judgment was given by Mr. Kettle, S.M., this morning in the case brought against the Waterside Union by the Latior Department, claiming £2OO for breach of the Arbitration Act for inciting a strike of wharf laborers on November 21, when a number of men refused to handle superphosphates at less than Is (id an hour. The question was raised as affecting the case, and the case against the Laborers' Union to follow, whether the actions of the officials bound the union in case of a strike, it being contended that the meeting of the union at which the strike was resolved upon was not a l'gal meeting, not having been convened in accordance with the rules.

The magistrate had nb hesitation in deciding that there wits a strike, but agreed that there was a difficulty in settling the other point raised. He therefore decided to remove the question to the Arbitration Court direct, together with the question of costs.

SHEARERS' UNION. Wellington, Wednesday. At the third annual conference of the New Zealand Shearers' and Woolshed Employees' Association to-day, representing about 4500 workers, it, was decided to take a ballot next shearing season as to whether the union should cancel its registration under the Arbitration Act. ■ ARBITRATION COURT AWARDS. ,'j Wellington, Wednesday. The award of the Arbitration .Court in the woollen mill dispute is largely based on the Canterbury award in the same trade. A week's work consists of 48 hours, preference is granted to unionists, the present rate for piecework is to continue. The Courts \ award in the plumbers' dispute declined to increase the minimum to Is Ad an hour, as the union had not advanced anything to justify such alteration.

* DRIVERS' AWARD. Wellington, Wednesday. At the Drivers' Federation Ooolerence it was decided to take steps to obtain a Dominion award. As a preliminary, a conference was to be sought with the employers with that object. It ' j was also resolved that before the di»- '' putes are filed through New Zealand r v the federation should request the. Goternment to appoint a man with indus- '■ f trial and commercial knowledge, with a "< view to having disputes settled on points of equity and justice and not on legal ' ' I technicalities. A THREATENED STRIKE. '' ' W«stport, Last Night. The Westport Coal Company received' - Vj a demand to-day from the Engine £ Drivers' Union at Denniston for an as- ' sistant to be placed with the drivers in charge of the engines driving the fans at the mines, but refused the demand. ■ ' ;. The Miners' Union has, thereupon, notified the company that they would take 1 to-morrow off to consider the position. Consequently, the Denniston section of ' - the company's mines will be idle to- , ■ morrow. • '<>

THE PAINTERS' UNION. ( Bunedin, Last Night At a conference of the Painters! and Decorators' Union to-day a set of clfcWs. ' I for a Dominion award ;.wa» drafted, the terms of which will have to be ratified by the union before anything else can 1 be done. A number of suggested alnendments'to the Conciliation and Arbitra- ,'i tion Act were considered, and it was, de- 2 cided to present them to Parliament, A number of amendments "in the conati- /'J? tution of the federation were also de- •: »j cided on. ' \