DEPUTATION TO THE KAIAPOI FACTORY.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7525, 15 April 1890, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO THE KAIAPOI FACTORY.

Messrs Parker, Baxter, Desmond, and the Misses Taylor and Smith, a deputation from the Tailors' Union, interviewed the Chairman of the Directors ot the Kaiapoi Factory, yesterday, and the interview lasted close upon three hours. Mr Parkett said they were sorry to have to call again, as the Tailor-' Union had hoped that matters would have gone on without further trouble, especially as a letter had been received from Mr Blackwell that the Factory would accept the Dunedin log in its entirety. Mr Pascoe, the manager, in a conversation informed the speaker that he would not comply with the log, and that the work must be done equally as well as it had been. When they had such information from the manager in direct opposition to the Directors, the Union considered that something had to be done, and they appointed the deputation to wait on the Directors. The Union was desirous of knowing whether or not the Factory would accept the New Zealand log. Mr Blackwell said he thought they were rather precipitate in their action. He noticed by the papers that certaiu employees had made such and such a statement. These statements, unless there was a chance of rebutting them, were injurious to the Company. As a matter of fact, the log had not been a week on trial until next Wednesday. Last Monday was a holiday and the few who were able to get work started on Tuesday and finished on Wednesday, when the accounts were closed. Even now there would not be a full week by next Wednesday, as all the hands were not fully employed. As far as the Board was concerned they had decided to adopt the Dunedin log and the Dunedin system, and to do this the Company had incurred expense in obtaining new machines and making alterations which were necessary under the new state of affairs. That morning also two workers had arrived from Dunedin to instruct the Factory people in the Dunedin method. Untii the method had had a trial it was premature for anyone to interfere. The attitude of the Board to the employees had been generous in the extreme, and with a view to helping them and also to helping the Union, the Board, at the cost of some hundreds of pounds, tried to bring the wages up to a higher level. They, failed. After the failure the Company saw that they must be cut out of the trade altogether unless they placed themselves on the same level as manufacturers in other places. The .feeling of the Board was to deal fairly with the employees and it did not like to see exparte statements taken up by the Union as being correct. The Union, in fact, were not treating the Board fairly.

Mr Parker did not think the action was precipitate, especially when the employees, had said that the Manager had positively asserted that he would not deviate from the old system. Mr Blackwell asked why he was not waited on. immediately, and the .attitude of the Board ascertained from aim. No matter who interposed, the Board would carry out its. views. The Board had instructed that the Dunedin log should be adopted, and adopted it should be. Mr Parker said he would have spoken to Mr Blackwell, but that the question was one on which he preferred to have the opinion of the Union before acting. Mr Pascoe had taken the work frpm pressors, "who had;done it according to the Dunedin system, and he had alung it on one side. Such a state of things ought not to exist.

Mr Baxter asked if Mr Pascoe had carried out the instructions of the Board.

Mr Blackwell answered that Mr Pascoe had not yet had time to get Into the system. He had told them in his letter that the system would take a little time to introduce, as some irregularities must occur.

Mr Baxter asked if the system had been initiated, or had Mr Pascoe refused to initiate it. Had he the power of vetoing the Board's instructions.

Mr Blackwell replied that Mr Pascoe had no power to refuse, nor did he anticipate that he would attempt to do so. Mr Baxter said that the Union were of opinion that the system could be initiated in eight hours. The treatment of the pressors was clear proof that Mr Pascoe did not adhere to the Dunedin system. The Union had at request given the factory the Dunedin log, and now the Union wished to know, If the state of things referred to were to remain unaltered. Mr Blackwell said there were many anomalies in the log. • - Mr Baxter said the Union wished to come to an'understanding.

. Mr Blackwell thought there should be no objection to a little extra machining being done if the Company paid for it.. If any extra .work ware put on the piecehands they would be paid accordingly. Mr Parker said that such would be a deviation, and the Union and Directors must have an understanding upon it. The object of the Company was evidently to obtain better work.

Mr , Blackwell eaid the Company wished to conserve their trade and maintain their character for a well finished article. Dunedin manufacturers were now paying for their folly. One firm which had employed «300 hands now only I had work for 100. Another firm had reduced its number by-half, and of that half 75 per cent, were making up moles. One firm sent over to Australia for goods, because it could not buy Dunedin made goods. The Company was anxious to produce a good article even though a little ■ more worK, for which they would pay, was: put into it. Mr Parker pointed out that that wouldi be a deviation ttom the-system. Some furtherdiscussion occurred as to ; what the Company intended, to, do in the wav of deviation. i ]_£r Blaxjkwell said the points ot de-: viation would take some time to find out,, and the system cOuld hot. be properly established in eight hours. When the lioints were found the matter would be aid before the Union.

Mr Baxter here observed: that two pressera had their work questioned by Mr Pascoe. •■

Mr Mitchell (a Director of the Company, who was also present) asked whether the men or the manager was to he the judge of the work. ; , v Mr Baxter said that if there were any difference in the work, there should also be in the prices, and these pressers should not be expected to do their work according to the old system and be paid under the new. It would put them in a position of being able to earn only about half-rates. Mr Blackwell said that he found in Danedin, and had since had it confirmed, that id Dunedin the work varied at different factories, though all worked under one lose, and In the present instance the men had not donti their work up to Dunedin form.

Mr Desmond said that when Mr Banks called him ia he said that orders would be done according to the Old log and slopsunder the Dunedin log., * Mr B__tCi_WELL said he would like to get 'someone who had. been working in Dunedin ; then he coold say if the work was done according to the Dunedin log. Mr Baxter asked if the Company wished to adhere to the system until the 1 Union found them a practical man. Mr Mitchell said no. They did not | wisb to have passed work, which would not pass in Dunedin. I Mr Parker mentioned a case where only 5d a day was made upon twusers. I I Mr M-tche-J. asked if cheare were any [ trousers for which only 2Jd per pair was paid. Mr Parker understood that was so. j

Mr Mitchell replied that Mr Pascoe had told hian. that he gaye .none out under 4d.

Mr acted under his instructions, aS lie considered 2£d ridiculously , r low. He mentioned the fact that tinder the increased; log an operative earned 2s a week lees than she had for two years previously.

Mr B AXpek said that was caused through the doing away of home work. Mr Blackwell repeated. that what extra work was done they were prepareto pay for, but before Adopting anything consult the Union. Mr Baxter said the Union would b* pr _P a ?? d *° meet t* l6 Directors. Mr Parker said the injustice ww» thai Mr Pascoe wanted superior work for it* fenorpay. , • Mr Blackwkix answered that he did Jipt encourage Mr Pascoe In any vindictive feelings towards the Union. The Unto* had no better friends than the Board c 4 Directors.

Mr Mitchell aaid the best answer waa, that the Board had carried a motio« unanianously, thafctne Dunedin log ahouW be accepted. Mr Baxter said it would only be fair tt the pressors if the Company obtained _ hand from Dunedin to show how the won was done.

Mr Mitchell said he had been informed that from titis to 70s could be earned taj pressors In Dunedin. He found that febl maximum was from 45s to 505.) Mr Pabkkb said that a Dunedin preasei had told him that ho earned £3 a week, and the statement that from (30a to 70« could be earned had been confirmed by Mi Miller, Secretary of the Union. Mr Mitchell was glad to hear it. Again, upon direct questions, as t« whether the Company would adhere eloSelj to the Dunedin log, Mr Bi__ckwell said that Mr Pascoe had been instructed to luitiate the Ida, Mr Pascoe was in a difficult position, because the probabilities were that som« one of 500 would be offended. They had no idea of the difficulty of managing a ( otacern like that factory. Since they last met one of their number had been sent t* his grave simply through the worry. Mr Baxter distinctly asserted that Ml Pascoe had told him and Mr Parker thai he would not adopt the Dunedin system. Mr Mitchell said he was prepared to see the matter fully investigated aa concerned Mr Pascoe'a position. Mr Blackwell observed that if Mr Pascoe could not carry out the log som_ one else must. As far as he knew, Mt Pascoe was quite disposed to carry out hla instructions.

Mr Desmond asked if the presainfl would be done under the Dunedin system. Mr Blackwkll said that Mr Pascoe had told him that the whole work was being framed under the Dunedin log. Where did differences occur 1

Mr Desmond answered that some coata required from a quarter to half-an-hour'e more work than they were paid for. Mr Blackwell said that was one of the points where the question of better pay came in.

Mr Baxter remarked that In Dunedin girls averaged from 20s to 28s per week. Mr Blackwell said he had a return In which Mr Pascoe was not concerned. Il was that of a girl who, before the strike, had earned 80s6d per week, afterwards, only 13s 6d. Mr Baxter asked how many houra were worked.

Mr Blackwell understood she worked the legal hours. Mr Baxter sai_ his average was foi eight hours a day. Did Mr BlacfcwelTi case include work taken home ? Mr Blackwell could not say. • - J Mr Parker could prove by Duaedio books that coat, trousers, and vest handa could earn 24s per week. Mr Blackwell was Informed by ttie girls wno had come from Dunedin that comparatively speaking the work hen was child's play, because of the machlnei being driven by motive power. Miss F. Taylor explained the difference between the two systems. In Dun* edln she had earned 25s a week. M ?, B L AXTKB , sal5 al . d that the operatives would be satisfied If every facility were given them to work under the Dunedin «>g. Mr Blackwell thought the system should be given a chance, and then taking the pay-sheets the difference could b« noticed between the old and new rates, and it could be ascertained if the Dunedin log was working at any great disadvantage to either party. The Board, would look into what Mr Pascoe had said. From his own knowledge he saw work, last Tuesday being done under the Duhedln system. Mr Baxter replied that it was not j not even in the pressors' line. Mr Blackwell agreed that any deviations should be mutually agreed upon between the Factory and the Union. Mr Mitchell asked that they should have something definite to go upon. Mr Baxter pointed out that under the Dunedin system heads of tables were done away with and apprentices went under the piece hands. Mr Blackwell said one of the funda mental arrangements of the factory waa the table system. . , Mr Baxter said it was desired that ths system should be closely carried out. Mr Blackwell observed that it would simply revolutionise the whole arrangement of the factory. Misa Smith said that the employees themselves oondemned the table system, because It kept work from the piece bands. For many months they had made little wages. Mjp Blackwell remarked that the work had been distributed rather than dJemias the hands. Necessarily the earnings would be less. '.'*■•>; >-

Miss Smith—That while tbe tables had abundance of work the piece hands had only made lOd and Is per day. If the Com* pany couid guarantee four or five garments a day it would not matter. Mr Blackwell said they would do their best to keep up the trade. It was then pointed out to Mr Black' well that irons were too few: that Bewlng on buttons should be so much per dosehrt that buttonholers should receive a minimum of 20. and pressors of £2 10a; and that all the preasers employed in the factory were not practical hands. ? ' Mr Blackwell drew attention to the log under the head of " slops," In which no account was taken of preasers* weekly wages, while they were provided fla under " orders." Mr Parker answered that it applied to both, and added that he understood the machine hands were too few, aa many piece had to wait a long time for theu *Work. ■,:•■„. '■■-•

: Mr Blackwell answered that there #Ia no more room for machines. If the hand* could not be fully employed, then some would have to go, and then again the difficulty would arise who should they send away. After some further talk, Mr Blackwell asked that the deputation would embody in a letter all the points they wished attended to, and submit it to the Board, who would go into the matter fully., The deputation agreed to this, and wlttv drew. ''. ")