CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 107, 2 November 1900, Page 6

CONCILIATION BOARD.

PLASTERERS' WAGES AND HOURS. The Conciliation Board continued its sitting after we went to press yesterday in connection with the reference submitted by the Wellington Plasterers' Industrial Union. Mr. T. Fo'ley, one of the employers who had been cited, concluded his address by pointing out that if the increase of wages asked for was given it would mean a curtailment of the work offering tp plasters. Mr. Emeny explained how the demands of the Union, if acceded to, would seriously affect him, he having a considerable number of plasterers now working for him on a contract. The first witness called was Thomas Foley, who deposed that he had entered into his contracts - before the Union's demands were made. He adhered to His statement that he had always" paid < ■ mpetent men 12s per day. Some men employed by him some fivo years ago had received less than 12s a day, but frJul was because they took it upon themselves to be judges as to their own abilities. They were quite content to take less than 12s, and witness increased their wages as they became competent. He considered 12s ai day too much • for ordinary plasterers. Was not in favour of the apprenticeship clause in the demands, as it would not be fair to the boy or the employer. For the last twelve months witness had employed an average number of fourteen plasterers. Thought a union beneficial, provided members were only calm in their deliberations and reasonable. Could not at this stage give dfetails as to wages paid during the last three or five years, and would not undertake to prepare a- statement to give such information. At 4.45 p.m. the Board adjoin nscl for the day.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The Board resumed its sitting at 10.30 o'clock this morning. The Union's second witness, Henry Freeman, said he had been connected with the trado for twenty years. Ho came to Wellington in 1895. Twelve sin-tings a day was the general rate f>f wages in Wellington at that time. He worked for Mr. Foley for six months, during which time he was paid at tho rale of 11s a day. Mr. Foley recommended him to ivir. Platt, who paid him 12 1 ? a day without question, and on going back to Mr. Foley he received 12s. He considered that it was absolutely necessary that boys should be indentured to \envn the trade. If boys were not bound, they had not a proper opportunity of learning the trade, as they might go from one employer to another, and if he was good at any particular branch of the work he would be kept at that, and thus never have the chance of becoming n. competent all-round man. If tho boy wa 1 * apprenticed his employer would be bound to teach him the trade thoroughly. He considered (hat the lack of this apprenticing .system was the cause of the number of incompetent men found in the trade generally. Only once in twenty year** had he been compelled to work overtime, whan working Keen's cement. A man could gauge his .work so tbftt he need not work overtime.

Fie h;td heei:, .sent. <iv»;iy on country woik, and had received 2s v day o.vtia for that work. Ho !>;itl not been himselF itulennned, but inul learned his trade under M?vcuil masU'i-i. l\ v. ;\s only under exceptional cirouiuvstaucj-t that the trade could bo learned in this wsiy He considered himself ;i competent man. Mr. Foley ic-kod the witness if he had any knowledge of bhop woik. The witj>e>3 replied that he was not- a thorough hhop hand, ns iv Australia, where he learned his trade, this Avas considered a branch of the Avork apart from ordinary plastering. Mr. Foley said ho considered an ordinary plasterer should be a competent shop worker, so that he could fill in time at that work when necessary. He considered five years Ava-s a fair time in which to learn the trade. Robert Bwloi. 1 ,, Secretary of the Wellington" Plasterers' Union, staled thai lie learned the "trade from his father, who Avas one of the oldest resident plasterers in Wellington, and who aCways paid at the rate of 12s a day. liis father did not thing it- necessary that a plasterer should be a competent, .shop hand. (Left Sitting.)