BRICKLAYERS' DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 48, 25 February 1918, Page 2

BRICKLAYERS' DISPUTE.

BOXU3 AGEEED TO An npnlication on 'behalf of the Brick livers' Union for an increase of 10 pei cejii. on tJie present wage ol 3/7* per hour ""as heard a 1 the" Arbitration Court this morning liefore his Honor Mr. Justice Stringer Sir. T. Bloodworth appeared for the ■union, llr. G. BaUdon for the Auckland Builders' Association, and Mr. .1. H iMacKay for the Auckland Gas Company, Mr. Baildon stated that he had had a conference with ilr. Bloodworth, and the latter had agreed to his eugestion that in Btead of the 10 per cent bonus, a bonus of 2d- per hour belaid as provided in the carpenters' award. The builders would be quite prepared to agree to this. Mr. MacKay asked that the Gas Co. be exempt from this clause, stating that the company was entirely different to outside contractors, in that bricklayer* employed by it lost no time except for sickness and holidays. His Honor: How many men do you employ permanently? —Four. And how many casual men?—Tn the summer time we put on another si\ men, who are employed right through the season. After consultation with the assessors, his Honor stated that they could ace no reason for excluding the company from the operation of the clause under "which the bonus was to he paid. Tney appeared to be in exactly the same position as outside contractors in that they employed a certain number of permanent men and also casual hands. If they made an exemption in this case they ■would have to do so in practically every award of this sort. The Court agreed to the application, and an award would be made in due course.