MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 155, 1 July 1919, Page 6

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

HIGHER WAGES ASKED. ALSO SHORTER HOUR& A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held to-day to hear a dispute filed by the Auckland Butchers, Meat Preservers, and Bacon Curere'Union against the Auckland Meat Company, Ltd., and R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd. The assessors for the Union were: Messrs. W. E. Sill, E. E. Moshielm, George R Taylor, and for the employers, Messrs. S. Wing, G. F. Lane and S. E. Wright. The Union asked for a 44-hour week, work to start on Saturday at 7._5 __n., and cease at 11.45 a_n., overtime to be at the rate of time and a-half. The •wages asked are as follow: Boners, 2/3 per hour; preservers, supervising pans and retorts, 2/ per hour; tinsmiths, 2/ per hour; all others 1/10 per hour; boys and youths, 16 years of age, 25/ per week; 17 to 18 years, 30/ per week; 18 to 19 years, 40/ per week; 19 to 20 years, 45/ per week. The proportion ot boys to be one for every three men. It is also asked that no deduction shall be made save for time lost through the default or sickness of the worker. The usual holidays asked for were the customary ones, also the preference clause, and the one relating to under-rate workers. Mr. T. Harle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, said the union had worked on the old award for considerably over 12 months after its expiry. The present application was for a 44-hour week instead of 48, full time and a-half for overtime instead of time and a-quarter for a portion of the period, worked, and Boxing Day was asked to be added to the holidays. Aa far as wages were concerned, the union had not made tae fatal mistake of asking too little, but probably a discount -would be allowed. The wages asked for boy 3 and youths were increased, but not above rates being paid at the present time by other industries. The Council then went into committee.