WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 243, 13 April 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF LABOR. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. The Trades Councils Conference' resolved to urge the Government to have all school books printed by the State and issued free of charge, that the Government be urged to erect more houses in each centre, with a view to bringing down extortionate rents; also immediately to establish competitive State services and factories with a view to reducing the cost of living. i THE UNITY CONSTITUTION. [ Wellington, Friday. Approval greeted the motion at the New Zealand Labor Party Conference to- : day adopting the unity constitution. Congratulatory speeches were made in which optimistic references were expressed as to the future of a united labor movement. The motion was then carried unanimously. i THE TRUCK ACT. Wellington, Friday. It is not generally known that under the truck provisions of the Wages ProI tection and Contractors' Lien Act it is I illegal to pay assistants by crossed cheques. For 60 doing Norton Smith,' a publican, was fined in the court to-, day 5s and costs. ' SHIPPING AWARD. Wellington, Last Night. ' After twelve months an agreement was come to to-day, before Commis-' sioner Halley, in the dispute betweenthe Merchants Guild and the shipping! companies, with regard to the general conditions of captains and officers of vessels not less than GOO tons. The agreement is practically on the lines of the Australian award. Tt provides for eight hours a day for officers, with 2s (id overtime if employed/ over Sfi hours per week; captains of passenger and time-table cargo steamers to be granted 21 days' holidays; other cargo steamers 17 days; all officers 14 days, with 5s a day for victualling for officers and 10s for masters, when not having meals aboard; wages of ceptains for passenger steamers, according to class and tonnage, £2G. £29, £33, £37, and £43; cargo vessels, £25, £27, £3O, £33, and £36. Officers' wages: Chiefs, £lB, £l7, £lB, £l9, and £2O; second officers, £l3, £l4, £ls, £l6, and £l7; third officers, £ll, £l2, £l3 and £l4; fourth officers. £lO a. month. Time off to be allowed at home ports to officers. The term of the award is fixed at three years, the wages to be retrospective from' April 1. The other conditions come into operation on May 10. THE DENNISTON TROUBLE. ' Westport, Last Night. The Denniston Engine-drivers' Union decided, at the meeting held to-day, to return to work under protest, pending a settlement of their dispute with the Westport Coal Company by the Federation of Labor. The company decided to have the power-house connected by telephone.