STABLE HANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 8

STABLE HANDS.

AWARD CLAIMS.

WAGES AND HOURS.

" REASONABLE DEMANDS."

UNION'S FIRST APPLICATION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

C'HRISTCHURCH, this day.

Better wages and living conditions and hours of work are the main points dealt with in the proposed agreement, which the Canterbury Stable Hands' Union has forwarded to the Canterbury Owners, Breeders and Trainers' Association for consideration. This is the first proposal of its kind in New Zealand. The Owners' Association will consider the demands at a meeting to-morrow night. The wages claims have been framed as follows:—Head lad, £2 10/ a week; adult workers 21 years and over, £1 10/; under 21 years, £1 5/; apprentices, 10/ for the first six months of probation, 15/ for the next 18 months, and, thereafter, £1 a week till they have served their apprenticeship term; adult stroppers in trotting stables, £2 a week (as they look after more horses as a general rule than stroppers in racing stables); casual workers, 10/ a day," with a minimum of three days when attending race meetings, otherwise ordinary rates. There is no set rate at present, but in Canterfbury stables anything from 10/ to £1 5/ a week is paid. One day off in every week, with a maximum of 56 hours* working time, and the employing of one apprentice to every two stablehands, are other features of the claims.

Earlier it was anticipated that the demands would be far in excess of those made, but a lead to the actual position was given some time ago when it was announced that they would be reasonable.