WOOL AND GRAIN STORES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22251, 16 November 1937, Page 5

WOOL AND GRAIN STORES

SCATHING ATTACK ON

CONDITIONS

DISPUTE IN CONCILIATION

COUNCIL

Scathing comment on the conditions under which he alleged employees had to work in the industry were made by Mr P. M. Butler, secretary of the New Zealand Labourers' Federation, at a Conciliation Council meeting yesterday. The dispute before the council was that affecting Canterbury wool, gain, hide, and manure store employees. Mr S. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. Mr Butler's remarks, which were equally strongly resented by the employers' assessors, referred to the conditions as "just plain murder, and a scandal not only throughout the Dominion, but throughout the world." They were made after Mr D. I. Macdonald, employers' advocate, had objected to a clause being included making it obligatory for employers to provide clogs or gumboots for men working in water. Mr Macdonald said that the employees had asked for 92 different amendments to the present award. They were so sweeping that the Arbitration Court was "the only place to go to. The industry was not a stable one, as it was greatly affected by world conditions and weather. After several adjournments no decision was reached on vital points, and the matter was referred to the Arbitration Court with a request from the assessors of both sides that the hearing should coincide with the hearing of the Dominion dispute.