THE WOOLLEN, DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11006, 2 July 1901, Page 3

THE WOOLLEN, DISPUTE.

The industrial* dispute between the Canterbury Woollen Mills Employees' Industrial Union of Workers and the various Canterbury mill owners and the hosiery-makers was then started. Messrs John Cahill. H. Q. Revel 1,-- and (I. McGregor appeared for .the''Union, and Messrs G. Blackweli and. ,1. Leithead, Kaiapoi Woollen" Mill; Mr J. Dryden, Ashburton branch of the Moi-giel' Company ; arid Air J. Lilico,, South Canterbury Woollen Mills.

The statement' submitted by the Employees' Union was as follows: —Fortyfour hours to constitute one week's . wo: „. Day .-workers--to work eight hours on live days, and four hours on Saturday, with one hour for dinner. Work to cease not later than twelve noon on Saturday. Men on night work to work nine hours on four nights, and eight hours on ths fifth night, with two half-hour spells. Minimum wage for sub-foreman in all departments to be £3 per week. All overtime to be paid at the rate of time and a quarter up to first four hours, after that until starting time next morning time and a half, the regular watchmen exempted. Each day to stand by itselfr Any worker who, through no fault of his or her own, is absent for any' period during tlie eight hours shall not be expected to make up time unless full, overtime be,paid. Casual labour 9st per day. Flue cleaning to be done by voluntary -labour at,3s per hour. No piece-work or sub-contracting shall be permitted. All work shall be done on the premises. _vightsoil to be removed by borough contractor. A suitable heated dining-room to be provided for all workers. The proportion of boys to men to be one to four or fraction of first four. For the purpose of computing the proportion of boys to adults the number of adults must have been employed at least two-thirds full time for nine months. Existing conditions shall not be interfered with. In the event of short time having to be worked, all work 'to be divided equally among unionists. In departments where night work is carried on, the work shall he equally divided week about. All means of exit shall open outwards. Workers not otherwise enumerated to bo paid at following rates:—Fourteen to sixteen, 3d psr hour; sixteen *to eighteen, 6d per hour; over eighteen according to log. Double time to b9 paid on Sundays and the statutory holidays, reigning sovereign's Birthday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day," New Year's Day, Anniversary Day, and Labour' Day. All workers to be paid on foregoing holidays. Unionists to have preference of employmeot. No non-unionists to be employed unless-twenty-four hours" notice be given to tho secretary of the Union. One week's notice to be given by-employers and employees. All work-people who have been dismissed since April 13th, 1901, shall be reinstated. Anything not provided for. to be settled by a committee of three members of the Union, three appointed by the employers, and, the Chairman of ths Conciliation Board.

The statement of the New_Zealand Woollen M-annfacturers* Association provided for 48 hours' work per week, 8% hours to he worked each day on five days, and 4i hours on ..Saturday, subject .to tho provision l ; of the Factories Act. The hours of work at night to bs arranged between the mill manage**-and the nvajority of night -workers. All overtime to be paid time and a quarter up to the first four hours, after that, until starting time next morning, -time and tv half; watchmen to bs exempted. The recognised hours of labour it is claimed saould be fixed by each emrfjoyer, and sliould be between the hours stipulated by tite .Factories Act, subject to 48 hours being a full week; beyond this overtime rates to ha paid. Should a publio'holiday intervene, the time lost through such holiday sliould b-*j deducted from the 48 hours, and not from the overtime. Any time lost by any worker in any one week should b*» deducted from any overtime worked by the worker during that .week, before, he or she should be paid overtime rates. It was also claimed that every employer should have full control over the management of his fa-c----torv, and make such, regulations as be deemed necessary for time-keeping and good order. Double time shoutd be paid for work done on--'Sundays,, and tho «*tat*iito-ry ltolid_vs provided by the Factories Act. Statutory" holidays should be paid for ros proj vided by the Factories Act. Kmployers shoukl eive no preference to either Union or non-Union men. One-week's notice'- in writing should be given by either side to i terminate an engagement, but nothing jn ihe statement should restrict the right of the employer, if sLa-ckurss or exigency of his trade should render it necessary, to 1 require any* worker or section of workers to work for a part of a,ny week only; in such'a c--*** the worker should, ha paid (inly ! for such time as Ire or she actually worked. j The proportion of apprentices to men shoitfd bo one to four in each department. Anythieg not provided for should be settled by a committee of three members of the Union, three appointed by the employers, and tho chairman of the Conciliation Board.

The hosiery manufacturers' log <r>rovided for 48 hours* a week. The rate of wages to be paid to competent workers was setdown at 20s a week; beginners to be paid —for tho first six months. 7s; for the second six months, 10s; third, 12s 6d ; fourth six months, 15s ; third year, 17s 6d ; and fourth year, 20s a week." Workers in the milling, pressing,- packing, and winding departments should be paid the same rates. Anything not provided for should be settled by a committee constituted as suggested in the woollen manufacturers' statement, and until'__*» question in dispute was settled, tho worker should be paid the above rates. Overtime should b-» paid according to the Factories Act. Machinists should mend and draw their own work. Waiting for yarn should be paid for at the rate of 6d an hour; quarters of an hour should not be charged for, but over a quarter should be paid for as half an hour, end over half an hour as an- hour; all breakages should ba paid for by the employer;. all .work should be done- in the -factory; the.employers should be a/.lowed freedom of contract.

Mr G. Blackwell submitted that neither side was properly before tbe Board-; tlie Union because their representatives were authorised' to appear by one who had ro authority himself, in that he was not employed in the..woollen mill; and the millowners because they had been cited as individuals, and not as a manufacturers', association, which was in existence at the time when the citations were served.

The Chairman a-sked whether there were any authorised representatives of the mill owners who could appear and bind the others.

Mr Blackwell admitted that there was none beyond the Association be had mentioned before.

The Chairman said he would, on that account, take the cases separately. The case against the Kaiapoi Company was called first.

Mr Capill suggested that the dispute should be heard at Kaiapoi. Mr BCackwell saw no necessity for this. He asked for an adjournment in order that the employers might appear properly before tho BoardV The Employers' Association were bringing' a counter statement, but had