WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 49, 16 July 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

STEIKE PAY REFUSED.. By Telegraph—Pa-ess Association. Auckland, Monday. Of 400 members of the Auckland Tramway Union 50 have refused to pay the two shillings weekly strike levy. THE REEFTOX STRIKE. Reefton, Last Night. The chairman of the citizen's cojnmittee has received a communication from the Consolidated management on behalf of the Mine Owners' Association, stating that they could not resume work in the mines pending arbitration, as suggested by the Prime Minister. The Miners' Union held a meeting yesterday, but nothing of importance occurred. Meetings are to be held every Sunday. THE BOOTMAKERS' AWARD.

Dunedin, Last Night,. The Arbitration Court met this morning to hear the dispute between the New Zealand Federated Bootmakers'' Union and the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation. Mr. Pryor wanted inserted the following addition to the apprentices' clause: "Notwithstanding anything herein contained, the present, custom regarding the employment of boys at heel building shall continue." • Mr. McKinlay, on behalf of a large number of employers in the Dominion, said that he wished to enter a protest against the proposed addition. ~

The Court" deckled to make the award as agreed on. Under the new award, so far as male workers are concerned, the preference clause remains as at present. It is provided that the award shall apply to hot-wax thread machinists, in addition to those already covered by it. In connection with permits for work at home, applications shall be referred , to the representatives of the Boot Manu- " facturers' Association and the, representatives of the union, and in the event of their not agreeing the decision of the Inspector of Awards shall "be final. In the old award the minimum rate of wages was fixed at Is 2d per hour. The* court's usual under-rate workers' clause ' is inserted in place of the more restricted clause, which appeared in the old award, while in accordance with the 'requirements of the Act the apprentices get a slight increase ,in wages, and boys other than apprentices are now allowed to work at cementing channels and bottoms. So' far as female workers are concerned the under-rate workers' clause is the same as the above. Apprentices have been done away with and assistants are provided for. The employer has now a right to dismiss his assistants at any time, on giving six hours' notice, and to deduct wages for the time lost through illness or .default of the worker, or through the factory being closed down for cleaning or for the repairing of machinery. No alteration is made in wages for journey-women.