SADDLERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 7

SADDLERS' DISPUTE.

UP FOR CONCILIATION. A sitting of' i'ho Conciliation Council was held yesterday, in connection with tho saddlers' behffi.cn'tHc Wellington Saddlers' Industrial Union and W. Wiggins and others, employers, of Wellington. ' Mr. P. Hallcy (Conciliation Compresided. Messrs. W. Wiggins, 'P. 11. Russell, and 11. Evans, saddlers, of Wellington." as assessors for tho respp4di;;iits. and Mr.. W. A. Grenfell (Emplovers'' Federation) appeared on their behalf.

The assessors for tho union were Messrs. E.'J. Henry,'J. Smith, and H. Heap, anil Mr. A. Kennedy appeared as agsnk for the union.

In ul] about 111 employers were cited in tha "dispute,'/covering the whole of tho Wellington iiKluKtrjal district. ■ Tho "uiuoir asked that overtime bo paid' at the into of tiiho and a quarter for tho first three' hours, instead of tho first four hours, as'in tho ourrcnt award; that the wages for every- journeyman bo ,£3 par week; that tho arrangement in respect to pieco work 'logs be mado with the union, instead of 'tho individual workers; increase in wages tor feinalo stitchers; further restrictions in regard to the preference of apprentices that may be employed in various branches of the trade;'for increase in tho number of holidays, making ten instead of nine, >a 9 in. tho existing award; weekly hands to te paid for all holidays. The employers, in their counter statement, agreed to some of the union's proposals, but asked that only six holidays be given as provided in the Factories Act. They asked also for.a preference clauso similar to that of the Wellington Carpenters' Award. In regard to overtimo they asked for a continuance of tho present rates, and they proposed a ivngofor journeymen of <C 3 lis. per week, as against the union's proposal of t £3. The proceedings were taken, in committal. •