CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3086, 17 May 1917, Page 9

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

HOTEL WORKERS' DEMANDS EMPLOYERS REFUSE TO DISCUSS THEM Tho Conciliation Council yesterday considered the demands of tho Wellington hotel workers. The Commissioner, Mr. W. H. Haggor, presided, and tho assessors were: "For the employers, Messrs. P. J. Griffin, J. Beveridge, and F. OakoB; for the employees, Messrs. E. Kennedy, J. M'Cusker, and A. Jackson. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell wae ngent for the employers, and Mr. E. Kennedy .was agent for the Wellington District Hotel, Club, and Restaurant Workers' Union. Mr. Grenfell said that tho employers considered it would be suicidal to depart from the present award. Already, heavy handicaps were placed upon the trade. There was tho antishouting law, and there were other good reasons why employers should object to any changes at t!» present time. Tho hotelheepers thought the matter had best go straight to the Arbitration Court. Mr. Kennedy said that his side was prepareff to give good, solid reasons for the claims made, and he regretted to hear Mr. Grenfell say that the employers were not prepared to discuss them. Mr. Beveridge said it was quite apparent that no agreement could bo como to. The demands were so extravagant that his side could not discuss them. Mr. Kennedy said it was not unreasonable to ask for a fifty-six hours week instead of sixty hours. In Australia, lie said, the hotel workers had a fortyeight hours week. Mr. Beveridge: The hours arc not continuous. Mr. Kennedy: The fact that they are not continuous makes it worse. You are taking fourteen or fifteen hours each day from the worker. That is a position that wants changing. . . ■. The trado is the most profitable industry in the world. ■ Mr. Bevoridge said it might have been a prosperous industry in the past, but they had no idea what the future might hold. They knew of many liconsecs who. had gone , out without a penny. Mr. Griffin: The lowest wage we can pay is 17s. 6d. to housemaids. Most of the hotelkeepers, if they get a pood housemaid, are prepared to pay £1 a week. Then- their board is worth £1. Mr. Jackson: There are cases in Wellington where 17s. 6d. a week is being paid. Mr. Griffin: The lowest wage we can pay a kitchen hand is 275. 6tl. K .von add 30s. for board, kitchen hands receive £2 17s. 6d. Mr. Jackson: Do you say that 275. 6d. a week is a living for a night porter who is a married man? Mr. Boveridce: It is. quite a farco proceeding. "Wo have been instructed to accept nothing but the old award. Further discussion, effected no improvement in the position, which remained a deadlock. The dispute will go before tho Arbitration Court.