WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1919, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

SHEARERS' DISPUTE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Proceedings with a view to bringing about a satisfactory settlement of the shearers' dispute opened to-day before the Conciliation Commissioner. The Hawke's Bay Sheepowners' Union cited the Wellington Shearers' Industrial Union workers for a new award. At the outset it was pointed out that satisfactory settlement would form the basis of the Dominion agreement, and would be ratified by the various industrial districts as an award. A good many important points had been settled, and it was decided that these be adopted and argument proceed on other points. Later. There was considerable argument whether the shearers' representatives would make a proposal as to the hourly rate to be paid to shed hands. Mr. Grayndler said he had discussed the question and he had come t6 the conclusionthat the rate should be 2s Id per hour, but should not one average be lower than the minimum weekly rate throughout the shearing season. He claimed that sheepowners could afford to pay double pre-war rates. Mr. McLeod said his side could not admit right away the statement that .£4 a week was the average wage. There ■were thousands in New Zealand living on less. Whereas, in 1914, it cost £2 to shear 100 sheep, the cost to-day was £4 10sMr. Cook said sheepowners had granted the shearers a living wage, but objected to pay it to the othtfr section. An average shearer shore 600 sheep a week, and on the agreed rates of pay he would thus receive £9 a week, and yet the employers objected to pay the shed hands a living wage. The conference adjourned till tomorrow, when the sheepowners will submit thair proposals. MAHENO HELD UP. Dunedin, Last Night. The Maheno, which was to have sailed for Sydney to-day, is still held up at Port Chalmers. The delay is understood to be due to the action of the firemen, who, with the exception of five or six, refused to sail unless beds were provided for them free of charge. Under the award governing seamen and fireman, it has.been the custom for many years for the men to pay a small sum for beds, as they were averse to using any but clean and newly issued bedding, it is stated that the agreement provided definitely for this custom, so that the action of the rtien comes as something in the nature of a surprise. . IRON TRADE WORKERS MAKE A STAND. Auckland, Last Night. The dispute in the allied iron trade! has reached a head. The three unions concerned, the Society of Engineers, the Auckland Iron and Brass Moulders, and the Auckland Boilermakers, Iron, and Sliipworkers, have decided not to work overtime' until all employers agree to pay a bonus for overtime, i