MASTER BAKERS' CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 17

MASTER BAKERS' CONFERENCE

CONCLUDING SESSION YESTERDAY A proposal that the New Zealand Master Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Association should register as an employe ers' union so that, -if it .were desired, the association might initiate proceedings under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, was discussed at the concluding session of the confer-, ence of the association yesterday. The proposal was set out in remits from the Canterbury and Auckland associations. Mr Claude Cowan was in the chair. Mr G. A. Laurenson moved that it be an instruction to the executive to take whatever steps might be necessary to bring the association into line in this matter. The motion was seconded by Mr G. H. Taigel. A Dominion Award The organiser (Mr W. H. Warren) said that a Dominion award had been mooted in 1932, but it had been found that as the association was not a registered body it was not possible for the employers to file a Dominion dispute. It was further ascertained that the incorporation of the association meant nothing under industrial law. It was felt that steps should be taken to remedy the position. Mr S. S. Green (Auckland) ;said that h'; association was in agreement, with the proposal. He commended to the meeting the first part of a remit from Auckland: "That the assoeiation register as a union under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act." . . A country delegate opposed the motion, saying that bakers in the city and the country worked under entirely different conditions. If hours were fixed by an award, the country bakers, whose employees might work four hours on one day and 10 hours on the next, would be forced to pay overtime on the extra hours worked on the second day quoted. Mr C. C. Lange (Invercargil) said that in the Auckland district provision was made for country districts. The president, Mr Claude Cowan, said that the association wished for the power to make a Dominion award if it should become necessary. If the country did not want to be included in an award, the executive would not take steps which would be against the interests of some members of the association. The motion was carried. It was decided to recommend the incoming executive to try to secure an amendment to the Aporenticeship Act. Mr W. S. Dustin (Wellington) said that some alterations to the act were needed, as in Welington, for instance, there were only two apprenA proposal contained in a remit from Auckland, that the appointment of the "Bakers' and Grocers' Review' as the official organ ofi the association should be cancelled, was discussed m committee. A ballot was taken, and it was announced that the proposal had been approved. Election of Officers Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr C. C. Lange (Invercargill); vice-presideqts, Messrs J. O. Boniface (Palmerston North) and R. T Norton (Lyttelton); executive committee, Messrs C. E. Boon (Christchurch), J. T. Norton (Lyttelton), R. T Norton (Lyttelton), P. Dunn (Ashburton) C. H. Thomas (Christchurch), G H Taigel (Christchurch), and T. B. Mason (Hornby); representatives on the Wheat Research Institute Board: the president and Messrs Boon and C. Cowan (Auckland). It was decided to hlod next years conference at Wanganui.