WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1919, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES.

APPLICATIONS FOR INCREASES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, March 17. The Arbitration Court to-day reserved judgment on applications made by the Furniture Trades Union and the Painters' and Decorators' Union for increases under the war regulations to 2s an hour for all hands. A similar application made by the Builders' and General Laborers' Union for an increase xu Is 10id an hour was also held for consideration. These applications, with other? still to come, are eonsecruencw of the recent pronouncement of the Coi'rt on the subject of the cost of living. It is anticipated that the Government will presently make an official reply on some of the points covered by the Arbitration Court's pronouncement- No amendment of the law can be made until Parliament meets, but Ministers, at any rite, are not satisfied that the blame for the situation that has arisen is all being placed on the right shoulders.

THE WATERSIDERS. Certain negotiations are proceeding at the present time in connection with the recent demand of the waterside workers for increased wages. The employers have made some representations to the Government, but the parties state that they have not yet any report to make fcr publication. It is interesting to notice, in this connection, the strong protest made by the chairman of th» Wellington Harbor Board to-day agairisf the continued refusal of ]the waterside workers in this port to permit the full use of labor saving appliances. Coal is being handled by hand while grabs are idle, and cheese is loaded in slings, with much unnecessary bumping and handlii>L'. while the trays provided by the board are unused.