YOUNG WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 8

YOUNG WORKERS.

PROTECTION SOUGHT

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE. INTERVENTION REQUESTED. (By Telegraph.—'Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The suggestion was made to the Minister of Labour in the House of Representatitves last night by Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) that he should give the Conciliation Commissioner some advice and ask 'hiin to take steps to protect juvenile employees in the confectionery and' biscuit trade in Auckland. Very little consideration was being shown to these employees, he alleged, and there was strong public feeling there. About 1000 boys and girls engaged in the industry were unable to fend for themselves, and if their employers persisted in their demands the negotiations would break down. He trusted the Conciliation Commissioner would do his best for.them. This- was a chance for the Minister to get the employers to do the decent thing. The industry'enjoyed 30 per cent protection, which afforded justification for the House to require the employers to provide proper conditions for the employees. The Minister of Labour did not answer this point in his reply. COMMENTS BY PARTIES. Commenting on the employers' proposals for a new award in the biscuit and confectionery trade, Mr. J. Purtell, secretary of the workers' union, said that the main points in the proposals were as follows: (1) Three hours longer working week for adult workers; (2) time and a quarter in place of time and a half for overtime; (3) wage reductions ranging from 33 1-3 per cent. "The suggested wage reductions are the most drastic I have ever heard of," said Mr. Purtell. "For example, the wages for a girl for the first six months under the present award are '10/, but the employers propose 11/3. These girls, who used to get 17/0, but were subjected to a 10 per cent cut and a 5 per cent wages tax, pay as much as 5/ per week for tram and.rail faxes." The present wage for a youth in his second year was £1 7/, but the employers proposed IS/. , "There is no industry in Auckland that pays its boys and girls better than we do," commented an employer when the Parliamentary message was referred to him. Much capital was being made out of the fact that the industry enjoyed protection, but no mention was made of the fact that overseas firms were manufacturing in New Zealand."