STABLE HANDS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 14

STABLE HANDS' UNION.

MOVE IN CANTERBURY.

OBJECTION IN AUCKLAND. "NOT IN INTERESTS OF RACING." Recently a union wart registered in Canterbury to embrace jockeys in permanent employment, apprentices and stable hands, and this matter was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association last evening. The secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr. H. R. Sellars, stated, that it would no doubt assist in the subsequent negotiations with the union if all apprentices and jockeys were enrolled as members of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association. The Minister was of opinion that jockeys not permanently employed in a stable would not be required to join the union, as they could not be deemed to be employed in .in industry similar to agricultural workers. It appeared the association and Conference, said Mr. Sellars, would have to us 6 every endeavour to have all the jockeys and apprentices eliminated from any award, and as regards stable hands would have to arrange for many of them to be classed as under-rate workers; otherwise he was afraid the position would be very serious for owners and trainers. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, stated in- a letter to the Conference that, as far ,as the union was concerned, there was no ground on which the

registrar could refuse regie tration as an industrial 'union, the applicants being workers within the meaning of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The compulsory unionism provisions applied only to persons employed in any position or employment which was subject to the provisions of an award or industrial agreement. _ The mere fact that registration of a union bad been granted did not make, the compulsory unionism provisions operative, for these could operate only when an hward or industrial agreement had been obtained. Objection could be made before the Conciliation Council and also the Arbitration Court.

It was suggested to the meeting last evening that an endeavour should be made to get the Canterbury branch of the Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association, and also the Trotting Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association to confer with the union and try to come to terms without going to the Court.' It was contended that if an award was made it would be to the detriment of racing, for the minimum wage that would be granted •to apprentices would be far too high, and trainers would not be able to pay it, while many owners would not remain in racing. ( It was decided to communicate with the Canterbury branch asking them to arrange a conference suggested.