THE TAILORS' DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 210, 4 September 1900, Page 5

THE TAILORS' DISPUTE.

AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT.

The Board of Conciliation for the Auckland district met finally this morning at the Supreme Court in counection with the dispute between the Tailors' Industrial Union and the master tailbrs of Auckland. The Rev. A. 11. Collins presided, and the other members of the Board present were: Messrs B. W. Alison, L. J. Bagnall, J. Pawcus, and W. H. Lucas. Messrs Stewart and Ritchie represented the journeymen tailors, and Messrs A. Wright, Jaggs, Swales, Murchie, and others, and also Messrs Dalton and Mcßride, represented the employers' interests.

The Chairman said he ■thought they had.now reached a final stage in this lengthy and somewhat complicated case. He read the recommendations of the Board (published last week), with the addition of the following clauses, which had been inserted as the result of yesterday's discussion:— (1) That merchant tailors employing tailors or tailoresses may engage same to do any work either on 'piece work or weekly wage, provided that where weekly wages are paid there shall be no piece work. ' The minimum wage to be paid to tailors shall not be less than as provided for in log"A." The minimum wage to be paid tlailoresses shall be as provided for in Log "B." Those not employed on weekly wage shall be paid as specified in Clause 4 (the preceding clause) of this agreement. (2) That where.factory and order work is done on the fettme premises the workers shall be separated by means of a partition, in order that the two branches of tue trade may be kept distinct. . (3) That one female apprentice shall be allowed to every three hands fully employed, and for the purpose of determining- the proportion of apprentices to\ journeymen, .in taking any new apprentice, the calculation shall be. based on a two-third full time employment of the journeymen employed during the previous three calendar months. ■' . Mr Jaggs said he thought this agreement! would be highly satisfactory to the masters. Mr Wright also expressed .satisfaction with the finding of the Board. Mr Ritchie raised some objection as to the minimum' weekly wage for journey women'• (coat-makers). His Union did not,quite approve of the clause as read. * After a little discussion those present agreed to sign the industrial agreement',. The masters present (with one exception, a tailor who wished for time to consider a clause in the agreement) attached their signatures. Messrs Stewart and Ritchie also signed on behalf of the Union. Messrs J. H. Dalton and G. W. Mcßride signed the agreement, and also the Wholesale Manufacturers' Association. Mr A. Wright expressed his thanks to the Board for the able and careful manner in which the case had been carried through. Mr Stewart, for the Tailors' Union, cordially thanked the members of the Board for the able and impartial manner in which they had discharged their functions in the investigation of this Mr Mcßride also thanked the Board, for himself and Mr Dalton. The Rev. Mr Collins said the members of the Board were extremely gratified at this amicable settlement of an intricate case. He was sure all parties to the agreement would honourably carry it out. The Board then rose, it being announced that the agreement would be taken round to the establishments of the employers who had not yet signed, to enable them to attach their signatures. .