CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 145, 18 June 1912, Page 6

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

AUCKLAND BITCHERS' DISPUTE.

A dispute between the Auckland Butchers-' Union and the Auckland Provincial Master Butchers' Union and 15 others, was heard by a conciliation council this morning, Mr. T. Harle Giles Conciliation Commissioner, presiding. Messrs. F. McConnell and P. (Walker sat as assessors for the employees, and Messrs. S. Wing (K. and W." Henaby, Ltd.). F. D. Parsons and H. A- Coates in the same capacity for the enrploj-ers, the respective representatives being Messrs, W. E. Sill and C. Grosvenor. The Commissioner, in opening the proceedings, said that there was some difficulty attaching to the dispute, as a nurrrber of pork butchers had "been cited as parties to the award. "He personally' felt that owing to the differences existing between conditions among pork butchers and other butchers, a separate award for the former would have been more suitable. He suggested that a sood course would 'be for the pork butcher= and preservers to appoint representatives to consider the matter, and then forward their decisions to tie council. As for dealing with all -three issues—those of the butchers, meat -preservers, and beef butchers—at one Sit : ting, he felt That it was almost' impossible. This suggestion was supported by Messrs. Pill and Grosvenor. the latter saying that the separate committees might" draw up a set of claims with special sections applying to the three clashes of workers. The claims put forward by the employees involved considerable departures from the existing award, to which employer?" counter proposals adhered, except in two small details. The hours ot work asked for were 51 hours or less per -week, apportioned as follows:—On _\tondav=. Tuesdays. Thursdays, and Fririavs. nine hours per day. to fall between T a.m. and 9 p.m.: on Wednesday, five hours, to fall between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.; on Saturday, ten hours, between 7 am. and 10 p.m.': one hour for dinner, half an hour for breakfast where work commenced before S a.m-, and one hour for tea on Saturdays. Overtime was asked for at the rate of time and a-ha!f. Tbe p-oposed minimum rates oi wagesfor tut-chers were as follows-.—First shopman, or man in charge. £4 5/ a week; second shopman. £3 15/; driver of haWKin_ carts, £3 10/: all other worker*. except as afterwards specified, employed in or about a butcher's shop, £3 5/: casual worker*. 1/8 an hour, with six hours' minimum; boys and youths, from 17'fi to £2. according to age. For factory hands, the hours asked were 4S per'week, apportioned as iol-!oir:-Oh first four days of the week, from 7.30 a.m- to 5 p.m.. with® minutes for dinner: on Saturdays, «.30 a.m. to 11.45 ajn., and the wages proposed ranged from £4 5/ to £2 1-v 2 week. For carters, the demands were for 47 5 hours per week, arranged so as not to" exceed Si hours on five days a week and five ours on Saturday. Vm proposed wages were from £3 2/6 to £. ].V r week, according to number of horse, driven. Other clauses related to holidays, preference, and under-rate worker.-. Several pork butchers were joined as parties to the award on Mr. Sill's application <''ne '•'•'> ssn f " r « &m P tion was pin in l.v - butcher doing business at Vanurewa under the country buteheTr award- It was admit!od that some 01 his c „.tomer. fflrre within the 15-mile radios of the Auckland butchers' award, and B f«er detailed consideration, both adti a.rcerl not o frrat-t t'.e amplication. The I'onnnissioner remarked that we -.nation vas a curious one. It- would never do for tbe Council to restrict the operations of any tradesman to a certain area. Mr Win" brouaht forward the question of ..wmitlw. which were included in :,.. butcher--' claim.-- He explained that hi- rirm owned tin-making machinery, but subcontracted for the supply d CM* and had no concern with ths wage paid to the men. The point was dtacus=ed ?; «..me 1.-ngtb.. hut no ;onelu,>on was reached. . Separate unofficial conferences. " - •=- ---■_r-u':> v the t'onunUsioner. were ranged a« follows:-Beef burchers. tomorrow; pork butchers. Mon ay -« inst.: preserver*. Wednesday. Sto-h ««| The appointment oi delegate, arranged by both sides, and '.h cm plovers agreed :o crr.;.!ovees' delegates dunn._ J- . ~' The' Council then adjourned smc