FIRST PROPOSAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 195, 31 May 1938, Page 6

FIRST PROPOSAL

AWARD FOR STABLE HANDS. DEMANDS MADE 'ON OWNERS. WAGES AND HOURS OF WORK. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Better wages, living conditions, and hours of work are the main points dealt with in the proposed agreement which the Canterbury Stable-hands’ Union has forwarded to the Canterbury Owners, Breeders, aiid Trainers’ Association for consideration. This is the first proposal of its kind in New Zealand. The Owners’ Association will consider the demands at a meeting tomorrow night.

The demands for wages have been framed as follow: Head lad £2 10s a week ; adult workers, 21 years and over, 30s; under 21 years 255; apprentices, 10s for the first six months of probation, 15s for the next 18 months, and thereafter 20s a week till they have served their apprenticeship term; adult stroppers in trotting stables, £2 a. week, as they look after more horses, as a general rule, than stroppers in racing stables; casual workers 10s a day, with a minimum of three days when attending race meetings, otherwise ordinary rates. There is no set rate at present, but in Canterbury stables anything from 10s to 25s a week is paid. One day off in every week, with a maximum of 56 hours’ working time, and the employing of one apprentice to every two stable-hands, are other features.

Earlier it was anticipated that . the demands would be far in excess of those made, hut a lead to the actual position was given some time ago when it was announced that they would be reasonable.