CONCILIATION BOARD.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9868, 21 October 1897, Page 3

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE FURNITURE TRADE.

The Conciliation Board met at the Provincial Council Chamber yesterday in the matter of the industrial dispute "between the Furniture Trades Uniou and A. J. White and Co., J. Ballantyne and C 0.," H. Fuhnmnn and D. Sykes, retailers V XX. Richards, A. Pepler, \V. Tapling, F. Dawson, F. Young, Page and Edmonds. Jacobson and McDonald, and W. A. Finlayson, wholesale makers : and H. Atkinson W* Bates, D.I.C, W. Strange and C... and J. Mitchell, who were unrepresented. The members of the Board were Mr H. J. Beswick (Chairman), Messrs W. Williams and J. Chalmers, representing the employees, and Messrs J. A. Frostick and T. Gapes, the employers. The statement as filed by the Union set out that forty-four hours should be a week's work ; 50s a week the wages of cabinetmakers, upholsterers, polishers, turners, carvers and frame-makers, and 40s a week mattres3-makers. Piecework to be according to a statement of j>rices ; disputes to be settled by a Board of three delegates from each side ; overtime to be paid time and a quarter up to 12 p.m., and after that hour and on Sundays double time. No apprentices' arrangement _xisting to be interfered with, except the increase of wages to apply. Apprentices to serve five years; 5s a week first year andariseof sseaeh subsequentyear. Proportion of apprentices to be one for every three men, or portion of three, who had been employed the previous six months at equal to two-thirds full time. Two classes only to be recognised—apprentices and I journe_'men. Unionists to have preference of all employment. 1 he retailers agreed to the case of A. J. j White being their test case, and the whole- ' sale makers to that of Page and Edmonds. Messrs W. Newton and A. Racy represented the Union, Messrs Reid and Coles the retailers, and Messrs Page and Edmonds the wholesale makers. j

Mr Newton stated the case for -the Union.

Mr Reid said the firms he represented all objected to the clauses except that referring to overtime, though they did not object to forty-four hours being a week's work, provided the time worked only was paid for.

Evidence was called for the Union to the effect that day shops or retail shop 3 paid decent wages, but trade or wholesale shops paid hardiy a living wage. The proposed prices were quite low enough. The whole proposals of the Union tended to elevate the trade, which was in a very poor position. The wages were fair, as a cabinetmaker required to keep a good kit, and ho had to be a skilled workman. The great proportion of boy labour was chiefly responsible for the position of trade. In cross-examination of the witnesses it was elicited that it would be better for boys to be apprenticed for seven years than for five years, and be improvers for two years, though under proper facilities five 'years would be enough. As no shops employed three men-polishers it meant, under the conditions, that only one new boy could be taken on every five years. There were more boys than men employed in this branch, Boys had not had tlie facilities they should have had for learning the trade. During the luncheon adjournment three delegates from each division met and discussed the possibilities of settlement on any or all of the points raised. Upon the Board resuming, Mr Reid said they had agreed to forty-four hours per week, payment to be calculated by the day ; mattress makers' wages to be 40s a week "of five and a half days. On clause 3 it was suggested that Committees should be appointed to go through each log after the Board had given an indication of the nature of its award as to wages, and report to the Board what they considered were the prices which should rule piece work. The Chairman announced thab the firms of Messrs Lawrence aud Kircher and Mr Jenkins had agreed to come into the dispute.

Mr Reid stated the ease for the employers, and asked that the rate of wages should be fixed at a minimum of 8s a day, which would make it the same as elsewhere. As to-the wagps of apprentices,-they wished the rate to be 6s, 9s, 12s, 15s, and 20s per ■week.

The Chairman said that as the question of apprentices' wages and the minimum rate was to come before the Arbitration Court at Wellington, it would be well to await the decision.

Mr Reid continued that as to the proportion of apprentices it was suggested that there should be one apprentice to every two men, or a fresh apprentice every second year. They wanted provision made for improvers, and objected to Unionists having preference of employment. On this point the Chairman said that the Board must be guided by the decision of the Arbitration Court in the bootmakers' dispute.

After hearing several witnesses the Board adjourned until 10 a.m. on Friday.