BAKERS AND PASTRYCOOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 172, 24 July 1890, Page 2

BAKERS AND PASTRYCOOKS.

A meetingof the committee of the Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Union was held last night in Robson's Rooms, at which Mr Cleary presided. A number of master bakers were present by invitation of the Union. The chairman said that tho meeting had been called for the purpose of discussing uiatters of importance to both employers and employees. They would just lay the matter before the meebing, and let bbc masters choose their own chairman.

- The secretary. Mr Wright}, said that the rates suggested were £3 for foremen, £2 10s for second, and £2 5s for third. Dry pay in all cases ; no man to be allowed to eloep upon the premises. Bread to be allowed in all cajfres. That was the rate of pay throughout the colony, and he did not think thab Auckland men should receive less pay than men elsewhere. With regard to apprentices, one was to be allowed to two men, tbe master's son to rank as an apprentice if learning the trade nnd to be bound for four years, a copy of his indentures to be entered in the books of the Union. Mr Wrighb explained that of course thiß rule could not be expected to interfere with any now bound. The idea was to start ab four o'clock and leave at two, those who sponge to leave at one, aud on Satuidays two hours earlier. Tbe object waß to work 60 hourß per week, including half an hour for breakfast.

Mr Burton suggested thab the time of starting work should be optional, provided that only 10 hours.per day should be worked.

Mr Wilson said that ab a meeting of the masters held on the previous night the feeling was that the time of start was optional. Unless this was allowed it would inconvenience trade, cause bread to be delivered later, and cause an increase in .price which would make the people cry out in these bad times. Mr McNab spoke in favour of commencing work at three o'clock. Mr Wright said that the men would work hard for the masters to keep up the price of bread, and they were affiliated with members of Unions, all of whom were willing to pay a higher price for bread. They also wished to see bakers manage their own trade and not sell to the grocers, as the grocers sometimes sold it at a loss in order to make a leading line, and thus the price was cub down. Mr Phillips said thab was a matter for the masters' consideration. He knew that one grocer had at one time almost cut his trade away from him. Mr Doran said bhab he knew of cases where grocers sold bread ab 2s per dozen whilst they were charging 3d and 3_d per loaf to their individual customers. They hoped to pub a stop to this, and the men could be called oub who had to supply grocers that sold ab cutting prices, Another trouble was thab some shops paid good wages to their foremen and about 15s to the other men.

Mr Burton moved a vote of thanks to the Committee ot the Journeyman Bakers' Union for calling the meeting of masters. Ho was pleased to see the feeling shown the men. De believed that they were willing *o deal fairly wibh their employers. This was seconded by Mr Kent and carried unanimously, after which bhe deputation withdrew.

Mr Wilson was voted to the chair, and the masters then proceeded to consider the rules as submitted. Several masters ob* jecfced to the apprentices nob being allowed to sleep on the premises. Ib was very bard for boys to be compelled to walk through the streets at that hour in the morning.

Mr McNab'- considered it a mistake to interfere between master and man in a matter like that. One master said he would not turn out his sons who were apprentices; another said his brother worked and lived with him. The Chairman said bhat the rule was very arbitrary, bub ib was in order to give married men a better chance. , Mr Burton moved that the rate of wages submitted by the.Union be adopted. This was seconded by Mr Jackson. Mr Dalton moved, as an amendmenb, that the lowest,rate of wages should be 30s, 40s and 60s per week. Mr Forgie seconded the amendment. Some masters expressed the opinion that 30s or 25b'was enough for a third hand. The matter waß pub to the vote, when 27 voted for bhe amendment, and 7 against it. , Tbe rule relating to apprentices was nexb considered. .. Mr Johnson moved thab one apprentice be allowed to each house.

This was seconded by Mr Grubb, and carried unanimously, as ib was felt thab some masters could nob afford- to keep any man, and yet required an apprentice. The remainder of the rule was agreed to. The question of hours was next discussed.

Mr Burton moved, and Mr Kent seconded, that the Union be requested to fix the hour for commencement at 3 inßtead of 4 as suggested.

The question of overtime was raised, bub the Chairman said that there should be no overtime when thera were so many idle men walking aboub the streets. This appeared to be the feeling of most of the masters present.

With regard to the question of giving bread, Mr Kent moved that dry pay mean no bread. This was seconded by Mr Johnson and carried unanimously.

It was decided that the annual subscription to the Master Bakers' Association should be £1. Matters of detail connected with the working of the Association were considered, after which the meeting closed.