THE TAILORESSES' DISPUTE THE EMPLOYERS' VIEW OF THE CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 64, 17 March 1898, Page 6

THE TAILORESSES' DISPUTE THE EMPLOYERS' VIEW OF THE CASE.

The Conciliation Board- sat again this morning in connection with the Tailoresses' dispute. Present — Messrs. AY. H. Quick (Chairman), .1). P. Fisher and A. Collins (representatives of tho employes), and S. Brown (representative of the employers). The lion. J. Rigg reported on behalf of the Tailoresses' Union that a conference had taken place with the employers. The Union had offered certain concessions in consideration of getting something in return, but Mr. Allan on his side could not see his way to give way on any points. After some discussion Mr. Rigg was asked to state 1 he concessions offered by the Union. Mr. Rigg explained that they were prepared to modify to a certain extent. In clause 1 of tbsir claim they would agree to the amount of machinery being increased, which would reducej the cost of labour on a garment. Subject to the above, one and a half hours to be allowed for pressing a fourth-class coat, half an hour for a fourth-class sihgle-breasled vest, an hour and a half for pressing and shrinking any class of trousers. Clause 2—2 — In this clause, the item coat bauds £1 17s 6d, they were willing to concede 2s 6d and make it £1 15s. Clause 3— No offer. Clause 4 — The terms of apprenticeship : they will concede that where each item is learnt separately for coatmaking three years, vest-making two years, trousers two 'years, machining two years; but if all are learnt five years. They offer these concessions on couditiou that they get something in return. Clauses 5, 6, 7,"dealing with overtime and preference being given to Union hands — No offer. Clause B—Thejr8 — Thej r are prepared to strike this out. (This clause provided that all work must be done in the shop of the employer.) Clauses 9 and 10— No offer. Mr. Allan (employer) said he had nothing further to say except that the log A, as he had shown, was unworkable. The log started too high. Mr. Brown asked if the modifications now proposed would make it acceptable. Mr. Allan said he could not answer definitely on the spur of the moment. It had been admitted by Mr. Eigg that the demands of the Union meant an increase of wages all round. Mr. Rigg— To time hands. Mi 1 . Allan — No ; all round. Mr. Rigg — Very little. I Mr. Allan said the employers were merely fighting against an increase of wages. They contended that they were paying wages equal to anything paid in boot factories, printing oliices, or anywhere else where women were employed. Mr. Brown — .Dressmakers ? Mr. Allan — They were the worst paid of the lot, and they deserve better pay. The demands of the tailoresses in the present case were Unreasonable. In his own shop it meant an increase of from 20 to 25 per cent. Mr. Quick asked if Mr. Allan could offer any suggestions. Mr. Allan explained the existing condition of things. The ruling rates paid in the second grade of work were — Trousers, with ail extras, 4s 2d ; vest, 4s 2d ; sac coats, five pockets, 10s. Third gradeTrousers, 3s ; vest, 3s ; coat, 6s 3d. There whs a grade lower still. It was in Christchurch, and was for order work as made in factories. The log was— Coats, 4s ; vests, ]s 9d; trousers, 2s 2d. All these were orders— cut to order, and frequently fitted just like a first-class tailor's shop— and showed the impossibility of working from a log. Another line was a slop suit cut to measure at a still lower figure. Mr. Collins said this was arguing on a factory log concerning a matter affecting shops. Mr. Allan said it was showing the different grades of work. Regarding the offers of the Union, until they- showed why there should be an increase of wages there was nothing for the employers to answer. So far there had been no mention of a reduction of wages, but at the present moment it was the intention of the employers to make out a list of wages lower than was paid, because they were prepared to show that their profits were now not sufficient. Mr. Quick said the question now was, Could they frame a log to work on ? Mr. Allan said it would be necessary to have three logs, but it was for the employes to frame them. They had been so unreasonable in their demands that the employers felt they were not justified in doing anything for them. Mr. Quick pointed out that the Board was a Conciliation Board, and they should work together. Mr. Allan said it would require an expert to devote a lot of time in order to prepare a log for each grade. After some further discussion Mr. Allan proceeded to argue the position. Wages of machinists in "Wellington at the present time, he said, ranged from 10s to 25s per week, a few exceptional hands being paid more. For instance, in his own employ was one machinist receiving 30s. The demand of the Union for 35s was a maximum wage. There was only one woman in Wellington that he knew of getting 355. In boot factories, clothing factories, mackintosh factories, 10s to 25s was the ruling wage. If there was any difference the order shops paid a N little more. Coat hands (women) were divided into four classes — first class, 80s ; second class, 255 ; third class, 20s ; fourth class, 15s. This was where all the trouble would come if the Board ordered 11m employers to pay one maximum wage :—: — Trousers and vests, first class, 255 ; second class, 21s; third class, 17s Gd ; fourth class, 12s 6d. lie was speaking from memory and on information collected. A lower rate of wages was paid in Auckland than elsewhere, and the consequence was that he and others had been driven off the West Coast. They could not compete on account of the lower rate of wages allowed by the Trades and Labour Council at Auckland. Mr. Rigg asked if Mr. Allan had said that the employers intended to reduce wages. Mr. Allan said there was a feeling in that direction. They had lost all the shipping trade here owing " to not being able to bring down their prices. This was a serious loss. Concerning the apprentice clause, no one with any bump of calculation would have drawn that. In the case of the tailors, where the term of apprenticeship- was four years, one apprentice to four men was allowed. The tailoresses, where the term was live years, wanted one apprentice to five hands. The latest statement showed 123 hands employed in the older shops to twelve apprentices, about one apprentice to every ten hands. To keep the trade well supplied, almost one to one was required, although they would never get them. He thought the tailoresses might omit Ihe apprenticeship clause. 'He would accept Mr. liigg's concession regarding the terms of apprenticeship. Air. Rigg— But you must give something for it. Mr. Allan (continuing) said the wage paid to apprentice trousers and vest hands was 2s Od a week first t.ix mouths, 5s second, 7s (5d third, and tlic fourth and last six months 10s. For coat-making the term was for three years at' the same rate. No smart girl, however, would remain at these wages. The difference between what was paid and wlu.t was asked for was about 5s a week at the «nd of the term of apprenticeship. Overtime at the raie of time and a quarter was asked for by the Union, but it was never recognised in the tailoring trade. Only the ordinary rate of p.iv was paid, excepting that the minimum pay for overtime was'Ud an hour. This was fur the protection of young people. Jf they had lo pay overtime at time and a quarter, it would merely mean that when there was a rush they would

have to take on more hands. They could not afford to pay overtime and a quarter, lie never worked any more overtime than, was neceswuy. Air. liifjg -aid he required to call some evidence as lo the wages on time work, and as to apprentices, but he expected to close his case to-morow. Mr. Allan said it would be necessary for him to bring evidence that the demand for an increase of wages was unreasonable. The Board adjourned till 10.30 to-morrow morning.