CONCILIATION BOARD.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12532, 29 June 1906, Page 8

CONCILIATION BOARD.

♦ THE HAIRDRESSERS' DISPUTE. The industrial dispute between the Hairdressers' Union and thc_empJoyers came before tho Conciliation Board yesterday. The members of the Board present wore Messrs T. J. Mcßridc (chairman), G. B. Chick and H. Broadhead (employers' representatives), and F. J. Bidmeado nnd H. R. Rusbridgo (Union representatives) Messrs L. Brian and J. Rowley appeared for the Union, and there wero several employers present. Mr Brian stated that an agreement had been come to between the parties, the only clause in dispute being clause 3, which related to work iv hand. Tho union desired that "work in hand should mean work in the chair, whereas according to the interpretation placed upon tho phrase by Mr Justice Chapman, "work in hand"' meant work in the shop. If that was to be upheld it would mean that tho shop might be crowded at eight o'clock, closing time, and the men would be kept working till, possjbly, half-past nine finishing off those who were in the shop when the doors closed.

Mr Davies, of Davies and Lamb, said it Mould not bo reasonable to prevent customers coming in before closing time. As far as his saloon was concerned, his employees were never kept after half-past eight. In reply to Mr Chick, Mr Rowley said that a saloon was often full at eight o'clock with people wanting to be attended to.

Mr Davies said that his saloon was always closed at eight o'clock. Mr Smith, foreman at Davios and Lamb's, who had been with the firm for the past twenty years, said ho did noc remember being kept working Inter than half-past eight. Tlio "work in hand" question as raised by tho Union was, ho considered, merely a bugbear, and there was nothing in it. Tho interpretation placed upon tho clause by the President of the Arbitration Court was a fair and reasonable one.

After considerable discussion, a suggestion mado by tho chairman was adopted," that after eight o'clock only one customer should be attended to by each assistant, in addition to the one already in tho chair when the saloon closed.

Tlie next point that came up for consideration was tho question of tho leasing of chairs. Mr Brian said that the leasing of chairs was a device to get round tho award, and was most unfair. Mr Chick supported tho contention that no leasing of chairs should be permitted.

Tho Board approved of the clause in tho agreement forbidding the leasing of chairs.

The following holidays wore agreed to:—Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Labour Day, New Years' Day, Christmas Day, and Prince of Wales'a Birthday. It was also agreed that on Christmas Eve and New Year's Evo tho saloons should closo at 10 p.m, and at 9 p.m. on the evenings previous to tho other holidays. It was resolved that tho Board should make a recommendation embodying the agreement arrived at.