FREEZING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 8

FREEZING INDUSTRY.

DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT

AUCKLAND HEARING BEGUN.

The hearing of the dispute that has arisen over the application by the employers for a Dominion award to cover the freezing industry, begun in Christchurch last month, was continued in the Auckland Arbitration Court this morning.

Mr. P. V. Sanderson is appearing in support of the application, and Mr. W. E. Sill for the workers. The employers ask principally that slaughterhouse assistants, including cooling floor hands, trimmers, and guthouse hands, shall receive one minimum average wa?e of not less than 8/ a day, notwithstanding the fact that they are working for more than one'employer; and that the clause providing for payment at double rates on Sundays be deleted; and that a provision for' ordinary rates in addition to certain ordinary specified rates be substituted. '

In counter-citations, the workers demand that all work done by freezing chamber hands between 11 p.m; and 7 a.m. shall be paid for at a special flat rate of not less than 4/ an hbur, and that conditions be improved. A pound a watch. of eight hours is sought for greasers, firemen, cleaners, gas-producers, and trimmers in the engine room; while in the case of slaughterhouse assistants, a minimum wage of £4 a vyeek is asked from November 1 till March 31, and £3 10/ a week from April 1 till October 31 in the North Island and Marlborough, and £4 a week from January 1 to December 31 in the Otago and Southland districts.

The representatives of the parties addressed the Court in Christchurch, and the hearing of evidence in'support of the union's claims was commenced. The union advanced further arguments this morning, and the employers called evidence in rebuttal this afternoon.