EMPLOYERS' CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 196, 19 August 1936, Page 15

EMPLOYERS' CASE.

T-T-AT* BURNING OPERATIONS,

The case; for the employers was outlined by Mr. Anderson late yesterday afternoon; The employers, he said, desired only ordinary plumbers' lead burning' to come under the award, whereas the union wished, all lead work included., If chemical lead burners were, brought under the award it would mean that any workers employed to learn lead burning at the chemical works would be classed as journeymen and would have to be paid at the award rate. Plumbers were apt to be heavyhanded and did not make the best trainees for lead burning. John »D. Twentyman, works manager for the New Zealand Farmers' Fertiliser Company, Limited, said in his opinion work about the sulphuric acid plant did not affect the health or eyesight. Mr. Anderson, said the employers requested the right to work gas fitters? 40 hours, spread over five and a half days. Cooking appliances frequently had to he installed on Saturday morning. The president said the Court had allowed Saturday work for all gas.company employees. Mr. Anderson said the employers con-, sidered the basis of overtime should be time and a half right through. The decree of skill required in the plumbing trade was not increasing, but decreasing with the -introduction "of mechanical devices. He urged the Qoart not g increase the wages beyond the 103]. rate of 2/3 multiplied by 44 and divided by 40 to allow for the shortened hours. The distributing superintendent of the Auckland Gas Company, J. .J. Rogers, trave .evidence- that special -training was required 1 fof chemical lead burning. The Court decided to visit some of the works concerned. - ' ■ .