EXEMPTION SOUGHT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 159, 31 March 1922, Page 6

EXEMPTION SOUGHT

BAKERS’ AND PASTRYCOOKS’ AWARD

THE COMPETITION OF TEAROOMS

At the sitting of the Conciliation Council in the bakers’ and pastrycooks’ case yesterday, applications were made by the drapery firms of Kirkcaldie and Stains and the D.I.C. to have their names struck out of the list of employers cited, under the proposed award. Mr. W. Sim appeared on behalf of the D.1.C., and Mr. Page for Kirkcaldie and StainsMr. Sim pointed out that both firms were at present working under the restaurant award. They did not sell pastry in the ordinary sense, except in the tea-rooms for consumption there with meals. No bread was made there, but they employed women cooks, under the conditions of the award, to do that work in conjunction with their other work at the pay prescribed in the award affecting them. j Mr. Dustin (assessor for the employers) said that hitherto the trade had agreed to the exemption, but they had come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to themselves to do it. They contended that if tea-rooms employed pastrycooks they must do so under the same conditions as others. At one time the trade now being done by the firms represented was part of a pastrycook’s business, and that had to a great extent been taken away by firms who were not in the trade at all. It was only logical, therefore, that they should pay the same wages as pastrycooks when they were in competition with them. The . firm he had succeeded had lost a lot of money owing to this severe competition, and while nothing could be done to prevent it, they believed that no more favourable conditions should be given than they had themselves. The whole matter’ had been considered by the New Zealand Association, and he regretted that he could not support the application.

Mr. Page said that they had received a complaint from the Labour Department that they were not paying the wages defined in the award, but they showed that they were. They did not sell cakes or anything else in the pastry line except at the tables, and he hoped that they would not be forced into the position of doing so, a natural corollary to joining them to the award. The conditions in their establishments were good, reasonable hours weis observed, and all employees got tip? halfholiday on Saturday. He could see nothing to be gained either, by the union or the workers; but difficulties would be put in their way which would be very unfair. Mr. Sim said he understood that one of the proposals was to prevent women making pastry unless they were paid the same wages as were prescribed for men who worked in bakehouses. There was no comparison between the work in their kitchens and bakehouse conditions. Mr. Dustin said that all the tearooms were not like the two represented before the council, as most of them sold cakes and nastry. Mr. Martin contended that there was not the slightest difference between ordinary pastrycooks and those connected with tea-rooms. His side could not support the exemption asked for. It was decided to refer the matter to the Court.