CONCILIATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 209, 3 September 1900, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE TAILORS' DISPUTE,

MESSRS DALTON'S AND McBRIDE'S

CASES,

The Board of Conciliation for the Auckland District met again this morning at the Supreme Court in connection with the dispute in the tailoring trade, in order to hear the statements of Messrs Dalton and Mcßride in regard to the award of the Board delivered last. week.

The Rev. A. H. Collins presided, and the other members of the Board present were Messrs J. Faweus, W. H. Lucas, and E. W. Alison.

Mr Stewart and Mr Ritchie appeared for the Tailors' Union; Mr A. Wright and several other master tailors were present, and Messrs J. H. Dalton and Geo. Mcßride also attended.

The Chairman said they had met to receive Messrs Dalton's and Mcßride's replies as to the recommendations of the Board made last week. He asked if those gentlemen were how ready with their statements as to whether they agreed to the award or not.

Mr G. W. Mcßride said: We are prepared to sign. Air Dalton has a statement to make to the Board which affects me also.

Mr Dalton handed in the following statement, which was read by the Chairman: —

"I have the honour in the first place to express my appreciation of the pains and trouble the members of the Board have been at to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on the difficult and intricate matters referred to them, and my personal gratitude for the patience and care bestowed upon the exceptional circumstances of mv own case. I have read and considered the award, and, assuming that I have correctly comprehended its meaning and effect, I am not prepared to offer any objection to it. Before, however, I can formally consent to be bound, there are certain matters I wish made clear and free from possible ambiguity. I therefore respectfully submit the following comments, taking the clauses of the award in their numerical order:—(l) This does not at present affect my business, but should _.I at any time employ male hands I rfgree, so far as they are concerned, to be bound thereby.' (2) I have no objection. (3) I have no objection to that part of the clause which has special reference to my wholesale trade. As to that part of the clause which refers to my retail trade. I have no objection to the Tailoresses' Log marked "B." And as regards the exception, viz., lOd per hour to be paid to makers of coats of the specified classes, I have no objection assuming it to be the intention of the award to leave open the alternative of paying weekly wages according to the scale in the Tailoresses' Log marked "B." And further, assuming it-is not the intention of the award to limit mv establishment to three apprentices, but to. one apprentice to every three hands, I also agree that should I at any time employ male labour in tailoring, pressing, or cutting, I will in respect of such labour pay according to Log- "A" or a minimum wage, of £2 10/ per week, (4) I have no objection to the Log marked "B," and as to the exception in the matter of coats of the specified classes, I offergno objection, subject, however, to the understanding as to the weeklywages alternative and the limit as to apprentices mentioned in the preceding paragraph. (5) I have no objection, understanding, of course, what I term my fa atony is a workroom within the meaning of the clause. To clauses 7, S, and 9 I have no objection to offer.' Mr Wright said that as far as the employers were concerned, they were quite in accord with Mr Dal ton in the matter of apprentices. There was no objection to the proportion of girl apprentices being one to three, instead of one to four hands, as amongst ihe the tailors. Mr Dalton, however, could not take on more than a certain specified number of apprentices each year. Mr Alison: You would not seek to interfere with the present employees?

Mr Wright: Oh.no. Mr Wright said the two trades must be kept quite distinct. There was the wholesale trader and the order tailoring trade. For the latter trade one apprentice to every four hands was a fair proportion. However, if it would facilitate a settlement he would offer no objection to the proportion being one. apprentice to three hands. Mr Stewart (Tailors' Union) also said he would agree to this proportion, provided proper restrictions were imposed to regulate the numb_r of apprentices taken on each year. x After some further discusskm the point was adjusted, it being a*r-e?d that the proportion of girl apprentices should be one to every three hands. Another point raised was with regard to the alternative of weekly wage on piece-work. It was slated that the girls in Mr Dalton's establishment obje'-te.l to piece-work. ■Sir Jaggs' said it was only fair to all parties that the order tailoring trade and the wholesale trade should re kept quite apart and clearly defined. Mr Mcßride said that in the f .-.cto-y he represented the keeping of thes? two departments quite distinct was utterly impossible. The one trade had to be run with the other. Mv Wright said the master tailr.rs were prepared to sign the award at any time. There was only th's po nt to'be settled, but it was a vital pcint. The whole thing hinged on tnia After some further discuss-on, Mr Mcßride said he agreed with the paragraph dealing with Clause 3 m Mr Dalton's statement. He was prepared to work on these lines. -The Chairman said he understood the matters in dispute were now practically settled. The award would need "to have some slight amendments in order to clearly define the two noi-nts inst discussed. P Mesrs Dalton and Mcßride agreed that -they would erect partitions to divide the two businesses in theo- establishments if that would meet the "aiT" the points at issue having now been settled, the Board adjourned till 11 a.m. to-morrow, when the amended award will he read.