HIGH-PITCHED DEMANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1577, 22 October 1912, Page 4

HIGH-PITCHED DEMANDS.

"WHEN WILL THE UNION'S LEARN COMMON SENSE?" (By Telegraph— Prose Association,) Rotorua, October 21. The Arbitration Court to-day heard a demand by the local branch of the Auckland Hotel and Boardinghouse Employees' linion, the principal feature in which was shorter hours and inerensod pay. Judge Sim commented on the fact that the demands were double-barrelled, and said that it was ridiculous for the union to make wild proposals, entirely ignoring an award in. less than two years. When would the unions exercise common sense in approaching the Court nnd formulate reasonable demands. Tho evidence /for tho union was chiefly on the question of allowing a half-holiday, the Judge stating that it seemed to be proving broaches of awards for which the proprietors should have been prosecuted in tho }\M. Court. For the employers, it was stated that, allowing for the additional labour necessitated by shorter hours, the halfholiday, nnd «n alternate Sunday off, tho granting of the demands would involve an extra expenditure of .£682 155., or 15 per cent, on the present wages bill of £CMQ.

Mr. Long, for tho -union, admitted that the demnnds were made higher than they expected to obtain, as, beforo the Conciliation Commissioner, it was often necessary to compromise. Mr. Scott: That is reducing tho nholo thing to a farce.