LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2063, 24 June 1890, Page 3

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, June 21. The police demand increased pay and ignore the efforts of Hyndman and other Socialists to provoke a strike. The number of postmen and police unions is steadily increasing. Sydney, June 22. The Labourers’ Union intend to adhere to their new rules, and fight the matter out to the bitter end. Wellington, June 21. The. tramway strike has been approved by a general meeting of trade unions. A large number of the men on strike have found work, and £25 a week will now keep those out of employment. Efforts are being made to run the Buss Company’s service on co-operative principles, and thus ruin the Tramway Co. The unionists are taking shares. The Tramway Co. have suffered a great loss but they are determined not to give in.

The [Railway Commissioners have given a reply to the delegates of the Railway Servants, but it is full of technicalites so that railway men alone can understand its effects, Judging from the following discussion it is evident that it is not acceptable to the delegates. Mr Owen said that since he joined the service in 1871 the rate of pay had receded greatly, and even during the last ten years it had been cut down. Mr Winter said that no doubt great care had been bestowed on drawing up the regulations, but it had all been in one direction, viz., to gft the largest amount of work at the smallest possible cost. It was this gradual modulation from the higher to the lower standard that the executive objected to. The delegates criticised the replies as vague, and leaving the Commissioners too many loopholes of escape. Besides, many years might elapse before the alterations were effected.

Replying to Mr Hoban, Mr McKerrow said that he could not undertake not to engage additional apprentices for a period, but he would ultimately bring the number down to the proportion requested. The Commissioners had, he said, already made a start to limit the supply of boys. Mr Owen remarked that by imposing 60 hours on the locomotive men the Commissioners dealt very bard with them.

Mr Hoban said that he was sorry that they could not come to an understanding en the question of hours of labor, for if the society resorted to extreme measures no one could foretell where it would end. The men were determined to hold out for the eight hours system, and in their demands they were strongly supported by kindred bodies, and had the sympathy of the public of New Zealand as well as the House of Representatives. He suggested, as a last resource, that the matter be referred to arbitration.

Mr McKorrow protested that the Commissioners were entirely in accord with the eight hours system, but they discriminated between eight hours’ continuous work and eight hours’ intermittent work. He was pleased to see that the delegates bad expressed themselves so freely, but be must remind them that the Commissioners had •' been entrusted by the country with the control of this great property, and he did not think that they could accept the responsibility of adding so much to the taxation of the country. This was really what the demands of the executive amounted to. The Commissioners pould not go further than they mentioned in their replies. The concessions which tney had already .made would add several thousands to the expenditure of the country.

Mr Hoban replied that if the Commissioners absolutely declined to recognise the demand for eight hours they (the Commissioners) would have to take the consequences, for he had no doubt what the next step of the executive would be. In fact, everything had been arranged, apd jthey would soon be able to judge whether the Commissioners would stand the expense of blocking the trade of the colony. The subject was discussed at great length, aud eventually Mr Winter informed the Commissioners that the

delegates would be willing to meet them half way, and be agreeable to 54 hours per week, inclusive of the concessions already mentioned.

Mr MeKerrow said that the Commissioners would require a few days to consider the offer and calculate what effect it would have on the railway finances. He might be prepared with a reply on Wednesday. The delegates said that in that case they would remain remain in Wellington to receive the reply, for they had determined not to return to Christchurch with a hostile report until every prospect of an amicable settlement had fled.