LABOR NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2557, 19 July 1909, Page 2

LABOR NOTES.

(By Unionist.) It is reported that ,Mr. Eugene V. Debsj the well-known American socialist, 'nner Mr. Victor Grayson, socialist member of the House of Commons, intend visiting Australia this year. Counsel for the employers in a woodworking dispute in the Commonwealth Arbitration Court argued that some of the men in the trade—evidently nonunionists, for the. union is proceeding in the matter—were satisfied with the present conditions, and, therefore, the Court'ought not to interfere. To this Mr. Justice Higgins responded: “1 don’t want to draw an offensive comparison, but I can’t help remembering that the same point was raised by the slave-owner.” Bendigo miners are actively engaged in advocating the Saturday half-holi-day in Victorian mines. A sum of over £4OO is being expended by the Sydney Labor Council in the extension of its premises. The New South Wales Trades Union Congress has passed the following resolution *. “That it is desirable that the Government should introduce and pass through Parliament a Workmen’s Compensation Act on the lines of the Act at present in force in New Zealand.” BRISBANE DRIVERS. A comprehensive determination has been arrived at by the .Wages Board set up to inquire into the dispute in t’ho carting industry in Brisbane. The determination applies to all drivers engaged in the carriage of goods on carts, lories, waggons, etc. The determination sets out that the working hours shall not exceed 60 in one week, exclusive of time occupied in caring for horses on Sundays and holidays. The hours to be between 6.30 a.m., and 6.30 p.m., Monday to Friday, inclusive, and on Saturdays between 6.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. All work in excess to class as overtime./ The working hours to count from the time of entering to the time of leaving the stable yard, and all drivers to be allowed one hour for meals on all days except Saturday. 1 The rate of wages is fixed at £2 2s 6d for drivers of one-horse vehicles, £2 7s 6d for drivers of two horses, and an additional 2s 6d for each additional horse, pasual hands (engaged for not more than five days in one week) shall receive 7s 6d per day for one-horse vehicles, 8s 6d for two, and 9s 6d for three horses. For bedding and feeding horses, etc., on Sundays and holidays, casual hands to receive not less than 7s 6d. All oyertime shall be paid at not less than Is per hour., and after 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, inclusive, and 2.30 p.m. Saturdays, not less than Is 6d per hour. On Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eight-hours’ Day, Exhibition Day, and Sovereign’s Birthday, the pay for carting shall not be less than 2s 6d per hour. The proportion of drivers under 21 years shall not exceed one to every 5,6, or 7 drivers receiving not less than the minimum ; two for 9, 10, or 11; three for 12, to 20. four for 21 to 30. Such, drivers under 21 shall not receive less than 30s per week for a one-horse vehicle, and £2 7s 6d for two horses; overtime to be no . less than 9d per hour. .. The foregoing provisions are principaffy "matte applicable to carters ongaged in the transport of heavy goods. For bakers’ and ' parcel delivery carts, a slightly modified scale of wages is instituted, but in no case ,is a greater reduction than 2s 6d per week effected on the rates prescribed for heavy work. A special wage of £2 5s and £2 10s for drivers of rubbish carts is provided. A reduction of three hours’ work per week on the ordinary weelc s work is also granted to these workers. The award means a great improvement on the conditions hitherto prevailing in the industry in the city.