AWARD SOUGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 9

AWARD SOUGHT.

CLOTHING TRADE. HIGHER SCALE OF WAGES. COURT CONSIDERS PROBLEM. An application by the Auckland Cutters, Pressers and .Other Clothing Factory Employees' Operative Union for a new award was heard in the Arbitration Court this morning. The application was one of four industrial disputes related to the clothing industry referred to the Court. Minor points were agreed upon in conciliation council proceedings. Mr. W. S. Moxsom appeared for the union and Mr. T. O. Bishop for the employer's. Mr. Moxsom announced that complete agreement had been reached for adding fur manufacturing companies as parties to the award.

The first question in dispute, Mr. Moxsom said, concerned the definition of first-class chart cutters. These were highly-skilled men, and the union was asking for a weekly wage of £8. The men carried out similar operations to those done by tailor cutters, who were considered specialists and whose wages ranged from £8 to £15 a week. The adoption of a 40-hour five-day week had been agreed upon, and the only question regarding hours of work for settlement concerned clock hours. The union asked that the hours be between 8 a.m. and 12 noon and from 12.45 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. The minimum wages sought for male workers in the clothing and shirt, white and eilk working trades were: Secondclass chart cutter, £6 a week; stock cutter and trimmer, £5 10/; chart presser, hand, £6; stock presser, male machinists, examiners, clothing-oilers and underpressing and seam opening, £5 10/. The union asked that all work done outside the suggested clock hours be considered as overtime and be paid for at double rates. An annual holiday with pay was also asked. Mr. Bishop said he proposed first to call witnesses, and that his case would consist of an outline of the evidence to be given. The first witness, W. J. Jaggs, of the Cambridge Clothing Factory, Auckland, that in his opinion a "first-class" chart cutter was not required to be included in the award. The clock hours proposed by the union were not suitable, as they desired the right to work shifts. There was considerable overseas competition. Evidence was given also by G. Dennis, manager of Ross and Glencliniiig, M. B. Thorpe, accountant and secretary of R. Greer and Son, Ltd., and A. J. Shackell, managing director of Regent Clothing Company. Court Reserves Decision. Mr. Bishop said it was not desirable that staff managers should be bound by awards. A first-class chart cutter was, in effect, a staff manager. Daily hours had never been prescribed in past awards and the union's application varied from that made on behalf of the >rest of the Dominion. The employers' objections to the union's claims for overtime and annual holiday were based on costs. The new legislation, such as the return to the

1931 wage level and shorter hours, had already resulted in greatly increased The president (Mr. Justice announced that the Court would take time to consider the problems. The next two cases, the combined district clothing trade employees' industrial dispute and the combined district shirt, silk and white workers dispute, were taken together. Mr. J. Roberts, with him Miss A. Cossev and Mr. h. is. Newton, appeared for the workers, and Mr.'Bishop for the employers. (Proceeding.)