PRIVATE HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1071, 9 March 1911, Page 2

PRIVATE HOTELS.

WAGES AND HOURS, EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYERS. The bearing of the rli;,pule relating lo private hotel;-, oyster saloons, tea rooms, and re.-.taurants was continued yesterday by tho Arbitral ion Court. The .Bench was occupied by Sir. Justice Sim (President), Sir. N. Scott (employers' representative), and Jfr. .1. A. SrCuliough (workers' representative). Thu union (whose demands for increases of wages have already boon published) was represented by Sir. E. .T. Carey, and the employers by Sir. W. (irenfell, who yesterday led further evidence. Several of the witnesses called by Mr. Grenfell handed in statements of tho business done by them, and the estimated efl'ecls of the proposed award. Hotel Windsor and Elsewhere. A. H. Hardcastle, manager of tho Hotel Windsor, soid that the wages, paid at that establishment, amounted to .IM7 12s. a week, and if tho demands of the'union v.'ero enforced, this sum would be increased by £■> 2s. 6d., not 17s. 6d., as stated by Sir. Carey. . Witness said he usually started a worker at the award rates, and gave increases afterwards, treating the award rate as a minimum. Evelyn Slaud Ash, proprietress of flic Adelphi Tea Booms, said the rooms were open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the assistants worked 52 hours a week. Thero were five of them. ' She paid lliem tho present award rates. The work was light, but the present award rates were a heavy burden on the business, which could not be carried on at all if the present demands had to be complied with. She was recently from Home, and would not have invested her capital in the business if she had known of the restrictions to which it would be subjected. Slabsl Tendail, manageress of Kirkcaldio and Stains tea-rooms, said eight hands vrero employed in the kitchen, twelve in the diningroonl, and two in the pantry, award rates being paid. If the demands of the union were complied with, the increase for tho first cook alone would be ,£lO4 a year. The total inorcase would be J3391. The hours wero shorter than those of the ordinary restaurants, as tho assistants only worked 44 hours a week. They spent nine hours a day on the premises, but only worked eight hours. Tho proposed increases would prevent the employment of casual hands. Preference. Mr. Grenfell: Have the' girls, when engaged by you, expressed any objection to joining the union? —They all do. They would much rather have nothing to do with the union." ■ So far as you know, are_ they satisfied with their work and wages?— Yes. Sir. Carey: Is 225. Gd. a week enougn to lcoep one of your girls decently upon? —Yes, certainly. Do you know what they pay for board and lodging?— Most of them live at homo. Do vou know what they pay their parents?—l would not tell yon il' I (lid. Julia Godber, wife of James Uoduer, confectioner and caterer, said that they had just taken a lease of a house at .£ob a year, next lo their own, for., the accommodation of their female employees. She strongly objected to preference to unionists. It would mean that nearly all the girls they now had would leave. SVhen they had preference before, she found the girls most unwilling to pay 3s. to tho union before starting work. Joseph Boss, proprietor of Boss's Private ltotcl, said he employed six hands. Ho was his own chef, and liad one assistant in the kitchen. Several establishments which were not cited in these proceedings wero in competition with him. lie referred to boardinghouses alt round his place. Ho did not think any award was required. He catered for permanent boarders. Neither Sirs. Kossinor himself had drawn wages during tho last twelve months. Ho was paying housemaids 15s. a. week; their hours wero very short, and he had no difficulty in getting good girls for that wage.

Other Wcll-Known Establishments. Albert A: Corrigan,' manager .of tho D.1.C., said at that company's tea-rooms the cooking was:of the very simplest kind, anil did not call , for tho , services of a professional.cook. Tho.placo was quite from a restaurant or Kirkcaldie and Stains's. No meats were cooked, and only light refreshments were supplied, luncheon consisting of tinned tongues, pies, and salad. Tho cook was paid 355. a week. The hours were S a.m. to 5 p.m., with a Saturday half-holiday.- With regard to tho attendance, tho work was of a very light description, and . the hours wero 9 to 6, with Saturday half-holiday, 44. hours a week, and 110 overtime work. The only arduous work was at the busy hour of the afternoon, for which there was a very large stall'. Tho pay was ,£1 2s. Cd. a week. George "Russell, proprietor of Painter's oyster saloon, Lambton Quay, said the new restrictions in tho Shops' and Offices Act had caused the establishment to close 2 r p.m. every Tuesday afternoon, 11s this was the most practicable way of complying with tho Act, and as a consequcnco the hands only worked 551 to 574 hours a week, or six hours less than before. Eight assistants were affected, being the whole of the employees. 'James Godber; caterer and confectioner, said ho employed over GO hands at his two establishments, and paid award rates. Ho thought that iu view of the new Act, employers would bo justified in asking for a reduction of the wages in some cases.' The present award met, generally speaking, the position of both employer and employee. AVhon' preference' was iu force, there was a good deal of friction. Ho thought 'restaurants should bo permitted to employ improvers, in tho sam<s way as licensed hotels. He did not think any increase in tho rate of wages would be justified. The tca-ioom and restaurant branch of his business barely paid its way. Domestic Service, Mr. Grenfell: The union is asking for a minimum wage for housemaids. Can it be said that housemaids are employed in oyster saloons, tea-rooms, and restaurants? Witness: Why don't they say domestic servants? I think this is the thin end of the wedge for an award for domestic servants. To Mr. Carey: In certain cases ss. a week had been deducted froni tho pay 01 girls who did not wish to avail themselves of the accommodation provided. Should There Be An Award? Mr. Grenfell said the employers wished to havo it clearly laid down in the award that employers &lmuld be entitled to keep in hand two days' pay, which might be retained if the worker failed to give 48 hours' notice on leaving—such notice to be required where no agreement existed. Ho further submitted that no alteration in tho conditions ol' the business had been proved, except alterations for tho worse. In regard to his representation of privato hotelkeepers, lie had been informed that the Salvalion Army and tho Y.M.C.A. had decided to take no part, for reasons of public policy. These anart, ho claimed to represent the majority of the privato hotelkeepers. Ho submitted that the reasons against an award for these establishments, which had satisfied tho Court nt Christchurch and Dunediu, were equally forcible here. His Honour: That is not so; because some of them here are subject to au award. Mr. Grenfell submitted that failure to opposo an award on a former occasion should not prejudice the. employers now. Ho also asked tor the "legislation clause." Union Will Not Be Content. Mr. Carey complained of (he emission of 51 r. Grenfell to advise him of the demands as to 48 hours' notice and other matters. He also still maintained that. Mr. Grenfell only represented a niiuority of tho private hotelkeepers. 111 regard to another point. Mr. Carey said he thought, it was fair for the workers to try to get. redress from every source they could— from a dozen sources if possible. They would be foolish if they did not. Tho bakers and the miners had sought redress both from tho Court and from Parliament, and objection had not been taken to their action. Mr. Scott: The Court refused to make ■in award for the miners i'er some years. Mr. Carey: The Court refused in regard lo the bank-to-bank clause, and the result was that it was made clear by statute law. Tim unions could not be expected to be content—especially the books' and Waiters' Union—until they obtained much better conditicnt. than those at proient exiftinp. Tho Court rawed its dociiioa, .