WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 73, 13 August 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

THE TRADES COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Aeseciation. Wellington, Monday. A deputation from the Wellington Trades Council urged on Mr. Massey the necessity for passing various amendments in the Workers' Compensation and Arbitration Aets, which had been under consideration for some time. Mr. Massey replied that all the matters submitted would receive the fullest consideration. He considered the Labor portfolio most important, and had taken it up himself. As long as he held it he intended to administer it without favor or bias, doing his very best for both sides. If he did that he was perfectly certain that he would be doing his best for the country as a whole. All the Labor Bills would be submitted to the Labor Bills Committee, and opportunity would be given to all interested to give evidence.

THE KAITANGATA STRIKE. Dunedin, Last Night. The strike of truckers, involving an almost complete cessation of work at the Kaitangata mine, continues. The management posted a notice to-day that all employees who absent themselves on Tuesday, except through illness, will be considered to Iwve disobeyed instructions and will be dismissed. Such men will be paid off on o-iiursday. A meeting of the employees was held subsequently to consider a course of action. There were about 110, out of some 320 employees, present. The meeting, which was private, lasted over two hours, and was then adjourned till Tuesday morning. It is understood that it was decided by 105 votes to 5 to continue, the strike. A resolution was also passed that the miners would not truck coal in the absence, of the. truckers. About 26 men went down the mine this morning, and about 21 in the afternoon, these numbers being slightly greater than the number on Friday.' Tlie Castle Hill mine is in full swing. Tlie Labor Department has been communicated with, with the object of prosecuting the strikers.