WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1919, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

THE .RAILWAYMAN'S DEMANDS. • ' Jjj ______ ■ '*s, By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■'.? Auckland, Last Night. 'vi The Auckland branch of the Engine* ■,.* drivers', Firemen's and Gleaners' Asto* , -* eiation discussed the Minister's offer re« '■s garding improved wages and working { conditions yesterday. The meeting was, Jj held in committee, and p'assed a vota of |£j confidence in the general secretary, Mr '? M. J. Mack. ,-,. When questioned, the men generally i rccmed to regard the proposals favor- ~-, ably. MINISTER AND GENERAL 11ANAQBE MEET THE EXECUTIVE, Wellington, Last Night. The Minister and general manager of railways to-day met the executive of the Enginedrivers, Firemen, and. Olean-' ers' Association, and placed before tiem the department's programme of revised pay and conditions of employment The members of the executive asked for time to consider the proposals, and this wa» agreed to, the executive being informed ' they could discuss details vita the man- i agement. ' A BOOTS BAROMETER. , ■ Donedin, Last Night. After hearing the application ■of ■ the ._' Farmer's Union for an increase in wages t under the war regulations to-day, the president of the Arbitration Court said v that with regard to applications to meet ■ * increased cost of living, the court had j in view the arranging of a basil of ; wages for different classes of workers—skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled—and would then give a bonus to meet tie in' creased cost of living, and let • thai bonus vary, up or down, as the ofltfc of living rose or fell, and date it for ai* j, months. The obiect was to htMnqt. * tome sort of uniformity. *P»e oourt ? would get the Government statistician; ... to select two average periods of »bc "* months each. ' - Hon. Paul (representing several «*• | iont) said that personally, he wonld ©n« ? ject to any system that would prevent:. J an increase in the basis of wages. The president said It would not do ' ': that. It would always be open to them to wpiply on a bnsi9 wage, tout so long M there was increase on increase in the ,V cost of living, varying the bonne would r" represent what they got in xjapeat to that.

FURNITURE TRADE DISPUTE. Dunedin, Last Niftjhi f When the furniture trade employees' J application for an increase of **&* ~' came before the Arbitration Court, Hob. .. Paul said the cost of clothing had in- , creased over 100 per cent., and mlscel- ' laneous items over 20 per cent. Labor v,J era stacking timber and packing furai?s£ ture received Is 3Jd per hour, plot a 40 '7l per cent, bonus. The union asked f« if Is Bd. Hon. Paul also urged that fellif >| be given to parents of apprentice! whose. ■ t wages were inadequate to meet thai* j-jj necessities. If the Court could notJa grant relief, he thought the Employ«ttffl| Association should reconsider the question in relation to the abnormal cir-ff,|| cumßtances. ■ / The Court reserved Us decision.