H.-6

XXX

In the matter of an industrial dispute between the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (hereinafter called " the union ") and the Builders and Contractors' Association of Wellington, and the employers whose names are set out in the schedule hereto (all hereinafter called " the employers "). Whereas the above dispute was duly referred to, and heard, and considered by this Court : Now this Court doth award as follows: (1.) That forty-six hours shall constitute a week's work, divided as follows: Eight hours and a quarter for the first five days, and four hours and three-quarters on Saturday. (2.) That the rate of pay be Is. 4d. per hour for competent workmen. (3.) That all overtime-work and work on statutory holidays and Labour Day be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter for the first two hours, and time and a half after first two hours. (4.) That on all outside contracts the employers shall provide a properly secured place for the safety of the employes' tools, and also neoeasary sanitary conveniences. (5.) No award is made with respect to the number of boys or apprentices ; but the Court awards that the proportion of inferior tradesmen earning less than the wage mentioned in clause 2 shall not be more than one to every three competent journeymen or fraction of first three employed. (6.) That the distance for men walking to their work shall be half a mile outside the following places: On the south, Newtown Park; on the north, Pipitea Point; on the west, Grant Road ;on the east, Point Jerningham. Outside of those distances employers shall provide conveyances, or pay fares and time of travelling to the job. (7.) That none of the employers in employing labour shall discriminate against members of the union, or shall, in the engagement or dismissal of their hands, or in the conduct of their business, do anything, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of injuring the union. (8.) That the rates of all piecework shall be based on the standard wage fixed in clause 2. (9.) That the Builders and Contractors' Association of Wellington, and every member thereof, and each of the employers in oarrying on his business, shall be bound by the above provisions and shall conform thereto, and the union and every member thereof shall be bound by the same, and shall conform thereto in like manner. (10.) The provisions of this award shall be in operation and may be enforced from Monday next, the 21st February instant, until the 31st day of Deoember, 1899. (11.) A duplicate of this award shall be filed in the Supreme Court at Wellington. Palmerston South. Coal-mining Dispute (before the Conciliation Board). —-Dispute between the Allandale Coalminers' Industrial Union and the Allandale Coal Company. The following are the claims of the union, as contained in the order of reference in the dispute:— Cavilling or Balloting: (1.) That a system of cavilling under the following rules be put in force: (a.) Headings, levels, and pillars to be cavilled for specially, the manager having the option of objecting to persons going in for same whom he may deem incompetent for such work. (6.) General cavil to take place afterwards, (c.) First man out of place to be put into the first place vacant, (d.) Unsuccessful cavillers for special places, if desirous, to cavil for the first special place to start, or which may have become vacant, (c.) One man to cavil for his place out of two or more places in the same manner as two or more men would cavil for one plaoe. Rates of Payment: (2.) Headings worked by one man, Is. 6d. per box ;by two men, Is. Bd. per box. (3.) Levels to be paid the same as headings. (4.) Back levels, Is. sd. per box for one man, and Is. 7d. for two. (5.) Bords, 12 ft. wide, Is. 2d. per box for one man, and Is. 4d. for two. One penny extra per box to be paid for each 2 ft., or part of 2 ft., reduction in width down to 6 ft. (6.) Pillars : Splitting pillars to be paid (according to width of split) the same prices as bords. (7.) Pillars worked by lifts or strips, providing said lifts or strips are not less than 9 ft. wide, or taking pillars out bodily, to be paid ordinary bord rates. (8.) Drawing and saving props in pillar-working to be paid by the hour, but no drawing to take place after usual working-hours. (9.) Shift wages to be 10s. (10.) Deficient places to be paid shift wages, unless a satisfactory arrangement can be made for working the same between the men working them and the manager. (11.) Deficient places to mean : Places cutting faults ; airways and connections 6 ft. and under in width ; stentens, whether driven bord-width or otherwise; plaoes driven alongside faults or in faulty coal; places under 4 ft. 6in. in height; places with stone in them; extremely hard places; and wet places. (12.) Where boys are employed at the face, the difference to be Id. per box above single-man prices. (13.) Truckers' wages, Bs. per day. Timbering: (14.) Ordinary sets, 2s. (15.) Sets in headings 8 ft. wide, 35.; 10ft. wide, 4s. (16.) Sets in levels, 2s. 6d.; and where the roof has to be broken, 3s. 6d. General: (17.) Boxes to be equally distributed throughout the mine. (18.) Coal to be weighed, or a more satisfactory arrangement established than that existing. (19.) Tools to be sharpened free of cost. (20.) Every second Saturday to be a half-holiday. (21.) Hours underground to be eight per day. (22.) The prices for dips and stone drives to be arranged between the manager and the Miners' Union. (23.) Household coal as at present. The following letter to the Clerk of Awards from the president and secretary of the union was attached to the order of reference :— According to the resolution of the meeting held on the 12th January, 1898, we wish to lay an additional claim for the consideration of the Conciliation Board. Three members of this union have been unlawfully dismissed from their employment—viz., George Smith, president; William Torrance, secretary ; and James Torrance. We claim protection under the Act for the reinstatement and compensation for loss of work of the above members. The claims upon which no agreement was arrived at when the case was previously before the Board were taken up. They were as follows : — (1.) Levels to be worked by one man at Is. 6d. per box, and should two men be required to work levels, Is. Bd. (This clause was partly agreed to at the previous sitting, but the men withdrew their sanction to any alteration, and the claim as first put forward appears here.) (2.) Back levels, Is. sd. per box for one man, and Is. 7d. for two. (3.) Shift wages to be 10s. (4.) Deficient places to be paid shift wages unless a satisfactory arrangement can be made for working the same between the men working them and the manager. (5.) Deficient places to mean: Places cutting faults ; airways and connections 6 ft. and under in width ; stentens, whether driven bord-width or otherwise ; places driven alongside faults or in faulty coal; places under 4ft. 6in. in height; places with stone in them; extremely hard places; and wet places. (6.) Truckers' wages, Bs. per day. (7.) Sets in headings Bft. wide, 35.; 10 ft. wide, 4s. (8.) Sets in levels, 2s. 6d.; and where the roof has to be broken, 3s. 6d. (9.) Tools to be sharpened free of cost. The following letter, signed by the president and secretary of the union, was also laid before the Board:— According to resolution of meeting held 12th January, 1898, we wish to lay an additional claim for the consideration of the Conciliation Board. Three members of this union have been unlawfully dismissed from their employment —viz., George Smith, president; William Torrance, secretary ; and James Torrance. We claim protection under the Act for the reinstatement and compensation for loss of work of the above members. The Board made the following recommendations:— Cavilling or Balloting : (1.) This clause was agreed to by the parties. Rates of Payment: (2.) Clause 2 was agreed to as altered—viz., headings worked by two men, Is. 6d. per box or 4s. 6d. per ton. (3.) Levels to be worked by one man at Is. 4d. per box or 4s. per ton; by two men at Is. 6d. per box if the level is 8 ft. or less in width, and at Is. sd. per box if the level is over 8 ft. in width. (4.) Back levels to be worked at Is. 4d. per box for one man, and at Is. sd. per box for two men. (5 and 6.) These clauses were agreed to by the parties. (7 and 8.) These clauses wer« struck out by consent. (9.) Shift wages to be 9«. 6d. per day. (10.)