BEAUTY PARLOURS

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18677, 28 April 1926, Page 5

BEAUTY PARLOURS

AND BARBERS' SHOPS. INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE. Whether work on a lady's face or on a man's face was the more important was a problem confronting a sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday. A dispute was heard between the Christcliurch Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Union and the Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Association. The employers objected chiefly to a clause including journcywomen with journeymen, and paying them equal wages. ' "All capable men are getting moro than tho minimum wage, but there are several men in Christcliurch who are casuals, and are not capable of earning the minimum wage," said Mr li. A. J Campbell, when tho wages question was j discussed. "If we make tho wages too high is there, then, not a possibility of employers working short-hauded 'i" asked Mr F. Creswcll. "It is possible that tho minimum will become the maximum if too high a scale of wages is fixed." 1 Mr J. S. Barnctt for tho Union: What we object to is that the men in Christchurch aro classed below the pien in practically every other centre. Abuses in the Trade. "Shingling has come in during recent years, and may go out at any time. Our principal business is ladies' face massage, medical treatment of the scalp, etc. We do not come into competition with the men ; " said Mr Creswell. They were anxious to get over some of the abuses which existed in the business. Hair treatment was done for ladies during the day, and at other times appointments were made by girls up to 11 o'clock at night. That was one of the points they wanted to get over. "We used to look on our work as a profession, but you gentlemen have made it a trade, and now it must be looked on as an industry." Unless thev had a reasonable result from the meeting, ho' reserved the right to withdraw any counter-proposals, and appeal to the Court for exemption. They were asking for an unlimited number of apprentices, as the industry was so young. "We lose the girls continually on account of these smart young fellows coming along and marrying them!" Mr Barnett said that lie was not familiar with the counter-proposals, and surely Mr Creswcll did not expect hiin to accept them with no thought of amendment. "We are mainly concerned with, the females and -the abuses which Mr Creswell has referred to." Competition With Men. One young woman employed in a ladies' parlour, he said, was paid no salary at all, and in addition to this she had had to pay £3O to learn the business. Then the lady who engaged her closed down, and left the girl stranded. There were other similar cases. In view of the fact that ladies' work was increasing and coming into competition with that of the Union members, they sought to add those people to the award. There was certain work done in ladies' parlours which had always come under the scope of men's work, such as vibration and the treatment of ladies' faces. It was identical with the work done in men's saloons. ' Tho Commissioner (Mr W. H. Hagger): Under ordinary apprenticeship, the em-

ployer is under an. obligation to teach tho apprentice the business. A Lost Industry. "The making of plaits, etc., is a lost industry," said Mr Creswell, "as far as your shops are concerned. I remember tho day when every man in a hairdresser's shop had to know that business." He suggested that women employed operating on men customers should be paid at tho samo rate as the men workers. Mr Barnott said that the training of apprentices for the ladies' -trade was moro important than for the men's trade. The Union claimed the following scale of wages for apprentices:—lst year, 15s a week; second year, £1 ss; 3rd year, £1 15s; 4th year, £2 15s; sth year, £3 15s. 0 Tho counter proposal? were as follows: —Ist year, 15s; 2nd year, £1 10s; 3rd year, £1 17s 6d; 4th year, £2 ss; sth year, £3. Tho relative value of work upon a lady's head and a man's head took much deliberation, and after half an hour thero was no sign of finality being reached. Involved in the discussion was the proportion of apprentices to journeywomcn. "Not Afraid of the Court." Mr Creswell remarked that they were not afraid to go to the Court, and Mr Perkin expressed the samo sentiments on behalf of the employees. Mr Brian suggested the following rata as a compromise:—15s, £1 ss, £1 15s, £2 10s, and £3, and the employees representatives retired to consider the proposals. Upon resuming, Mr Barnctt announced that the Union would agree on the wages question, provided that the proportion of apprentices to journeywomcn bo one to one. "In that case," said Mr Creswell, "I will withdraw all counter-proposals and apply to the Court for exemption." Finally the proportion of apprentices to journevwomen was fixed at three to one, and the wages clauses agreed to.