IRON MOULDERS' DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1901, Page 2

IRON MOULDERS' DISPUTE.

The Board was occupied until five o'clock yesterday afternoon dealing with the dispute in the iron moulders trade. , , Mr Eoseer faid a letter had been .received from the Colonial Sugar Company stating- they would be pleased to adopt the scale in future, although when the building was completed it was possible the workmen would not be required. Clause 8 wars next considered, re overtime being paid at time and a quarter for the first two hours and after that time and a half. Mr Itosser said the idea of the Union was to discourage overtime as much as possible, in order that more men would generally be employed. Ho understood that the employers objected to payingl double time for Labour Bay, the same us Sundays nnd other statutory holidays. After consultation with the Union representatives Mr Ilosser agreed to waive the claim for Labour l)ny.

Mr Maaefield said employers wove willing- to pay time and a quarter overtime, but only when men had ■worked forty-seven hours in the week. The employers were also willing to pay double time for Sundays. Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Sovereign's Birthday and Good Friday, but only ordinary time for Labour Day. Mr Proud said it was the rule of the trade that the full week was worked before overtime counted. Mr McGowan said he had worked in the four centres of the colony and always got time and a quarter after eight and a half days' work. Mr Masefleld said men sometimes delayed work in order to get Ihe time1 nnd a half. He had been paying time •and a quarter. Mr Itiley said the Union would agree to overtime being paid time and a quarter, each day to stand by itself. The request for time and a hall after the first two hours was waived. This was agreed to by the masters present. Clause 4, re apprentices, was then dealt with.

Mr Rosser said the Union had derided to stand by the clause in the conditions of labour so as to prevent Iho shops being flooded with boys. The Union thought when a lad had been six years at the trade he should be worth 31/ per week, whereas the masters thought 22/0 was enough.

Mr .Tudd asked whether it was a righteous thing for boys to be deliberately shut our, from earning a

'living. Mr Bag-nail said he was afraid righteousness had little to do with the proceedings. Mr Fraser said that the masters were willing to pay apprentices as follows:—First year, 5/; second year, ?/(>: third year, 10/; fourth year, 13/6; fifth year," 17/(1: and sixth year, 22/6.

Mr Fowler considered one apprentice to two men was ;i fair proportion.

Mr Masefieltl said the masters wore ■willing that, an annual average of the men employed should be taken, and apprentices fixed at one for two mon. They had a number of boys now who could not learn trades owing- to these restrictions. The Unionists would suffer yet through their own sons being unable to learn trades. Mr Uosser said the Union would leave this matter to the Board to deal with. i Mr Masefield said that if the Union would not accept the rate of wages submitted by the masters and agreed to at the conference, then the masters claimed the right to submit h lower rate, as the other list was agreed to for the sake of trying- to amicably arrange matters. All the masters were agreed upon the point that it was injudicious to bind boys, as apprentices.

Clause 5, "All piece work and subcontracting to be strictly prohibited," was left to the Board. Mr Fowler said he was opposed to prohibiting piece work, because as thing's were going that would have to be the system adopted in the future. Mr Nicholl said in America most of the stoves were made by piece work. Mr McGowan said that piece work meant one man doing too much and keeping ofhers out of employment. Mr Kosser said the iron workers' employers were the best of all employers, but the Union objected to piece work, as it was vicious and lent itself to sweating.

Mr TJosser said the Union had nq wish to interfere with the old men. A proviso could be inserted in the award fixing the wage for such menThe Chairman stated that the statements showed that thirty-three men were at present in receipt of 9/ per day and upwards. This da vise was left to the Board. Clause 0, re only journeymen find apprentices being recognised in the trade, was next considered. Mr*Alison said that meant simply throwing old and incompetent men out of work.

The clause was also left to the Board.

Mr Ililey said that in the case of young men just out of their time they might be allowed to work for another year at 1/ per day below the minimum wage fixed. •