CLOTHING TRADE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19211, 18 January 1928, Page 6

CLOTHING TRADE.

THE EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS

ARBITRATION COURT TO DECIDE

A Dominion industrial dispute between the New Zealand Federated Clothing Trade Employees' Industrial Association of Workers and the New Zealand Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Employers, was heard before the Conciliation Council vesterday.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr \VT. H. Hagger) presided, the employers' representatives being Messrs W. Cecil Prime, W. Kerr, C. A. Myhrc, C. B. Bowie, F. Creswcll, and M. Hooker, and the employees' representatives Misses .1. Itnuciman. Swindon, Messrs R. C. Wilson. A. Stewart. C. Palmer, and I. 11. Cooke. The principal matters in dispute were in relation to wages, the employers' counter-proposals to the demands of the emplovces for increases, in many cases being' for decreases in the present wages. The employees' demands were that the minimum wages of female apprentices and improvers employed in any caparity should be at. the following weekly" rates: —First six mouths 17s Cd, second six months £l, third six months £1 2s Cd, fourth six months £1 ss, fifth six months £1 7s Gd, sixth six months £1 Ms, seventh six months £ 1 12s Gd, eighth six months £2. The employers counter proposals were that female "apprentices and improvers should be paid as follows (for periods rising each six months): —First 10s, second 12s Od, third lus, fourth J7s fid, fifth £l, sixth £1 2s Gd, seventh £1 -<s, eighth £1 10s. The. claim asked that the. minimum wage for journeywouien should be £2 12s Od per week, the employers counter proposals being for a minimum of £-. The employees demanded the following wages for female machinists and cutters:—Male machinists £4 l&s (lis od per hour) per week, second-class chart cutter £5 2s Sd (2s -td per hour), stock cutter and trimmer £4 19s (2s 3d per hour), for examiner in charge of finishing room £4 ]9s per week. The employers' counter proposal was as follows:—Male machinists £4 0s 8d (1 lOd per hour), second-class chart cutter £4 4s Sd (Is lid per hour), stock cutter and trimmer £4 Os Sd, examiner in charge of finishing room £4 0s Bd. Sympathy With Employers. "Although we may bo taking what seems an arbitrary attitude in one respect," said Mr Prime, in stating, after the employers had .retired to discuss further the demand for an increase in male employees' wages, that none could be agreed to, "yet believe me it is only after the deepest consideration the employers have taken this stand." The industry, Mr Prime went on to say, had been going through a difficult period, and while the employers sympathised with the demand for an increase they could not grant it while many of them were not making wages out of their own businesses. They would suggest that the employees' representatives might leave the present award in operation for twelve months, at the end of which time they could apply, for a new award, or, if the cost of living had fallen, take advantage of that, with the assurance that the employers would not seek to decrease wages on that account.

Mr Cooke said they could not accept that offer. Present indications were that the industrial depression was over, and that a small increase in wages could be made.

Mr. Prime: It is easy to strike an optimistic note when you are not in touch with the present position of the industry. After the employees' representatives had retired for consideration of the suggestion, Mr E. C. Wil6on stated that the employees, while sympathising with tho employers' view, could not accept the offer, and would.have to go to the Arbitration Court.

The majority of clauses were agreed to on the'lines of the old award, with the exception of those relating to wages.