35-HOUR WEEK CLAIMED BY BRICKLAYERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 13

35-HOUR WEEK CLAIMED BY BRICKLAYERS

Hearing Adjourned Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, April 1. A 35-hour five-day week anil a. minimum wage for journeymen of 3/9 an hour, compared with the employers’ offer of a 40-hour week and 2/6 an hour for journeymen, was sought by the workers at the hearing of the bricklayers’ dispute before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. S. Ritchie, in Christchurch. Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, for the employers, objected to the inclusion in the claims of clauses dealing with tilers and slaters and drainlayers on the ground that there were no provisions in the rules of the Bricklayers’ Union to cover such workers. The rules, he submitted, were restricted to workers engaged in the bricklaying industry. For apprentices the employers claimed £l/5/- a week for the first year, with five-shilling increases* for each succeeding six mouths to the end of the fifth year. The employers offered five slrilSngs less in each case. For overtime the workers claimed double time and the employers offered time and a half for the first four hours and double time thereafter.

Before the claims were argued Mr. Mount joy suggested that the dispute should be heard in conjunction with the Dominion bricklayers’ dispute (Northern, Wellington, Otago and Southland districts) fixed for April 27 at Wellington, for he felt that in the interests of bricklayers there should be uniform conditions. If such a step were not adopted the employers’ assessors were not in a position to give away anything that might upset the Dominion dispute. Mr. Jones said that he and his fellow assessors were prepared to adjourn the proceedings in favour of the Dominion dispute provided Canterbury was given proper representation in Wellington and provided other details were satisfactory. Failing satisfactory arrangements being made for Canterbury’s participation in the Dominion dispute, it was desired to continue with the Christchurch hearing. Proceedings, accordingly, were adjourned sine die.