WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 71, 10 August 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

A SHIPPING GRIEVANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Wellington Seamen's Union recently reminded the Prime Minister that in 1910 Parliament passed a Shipping and Seamen's Act which proposed, among other things, to compel all ships operating 'in the intercolonial trade to pay the ruling rate, of wages in New Zealand, and to impose a 25 per cent, tax on all bills of lading and passenger tickets ' issued from New Zealand for ships manned by Asiatics. The union, in its letter, asked the Prime Minister to, state the position, as twenty'months had elapsed since the Bill was' passed and it was not yet in force. In his reply, Mr. Massey indicates that . the Imperial authorities desire some amendment made in the Act, and that a Shipping Bill will be introduced this session that will effect the necessary change. THE PROGRESS MINES. Wellington, Last Night. In chambers to-day, .Mr. Justice Sim heard an application by Mr. W. Pryor, representing the Gold Mine Owners' Association, to appoint an arbitrator in connection with the conditions imposed' by Warden Hewitt, at Roefton, last month. &]>r. P. J. O'Regan. on behalf of the Inangahua Miners' Union, asked for an adjournment in order to enable him to file an affidavit in reply to the one filed by Mr. A. W, Evans, general manager of the Progress mines group, as he feared that, in the absence of such an affidavit, the order of reference for an arbitrator might not be properly framed. After some discussion, Mr. Justice Sim granted an-adjournment till Friday, August 2.1, Mr/O'Regan undertaking to procure an affidavit in the meantime. STRIKE AT KAITANGATA. Dunedin, Last Night. There was a strike of truckers at the Kaitangata mine to-day. Yesterday one trucker was dismissed because he refused to work a winch in his lunch hour. Today the whole of the truckers, about 40 ' for the morning shift, refused to go on. Some of the miners had to stop work owing to the action of the truckers. A meeting of the truckers, who all belong to the Federation, was held this morning, and it was believed that the afternoon shift will also refuse to work.