CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 151, 28 June 1901, Page 6

CONCILIATION BOARD.

, I - — -* PRINTING MACHINISTS' CLAIMS. The Conciliation Board, whoso proceedings of yesterday afternoon are reported on page 2, resumed its sitting this morning. The Chairman read a further batch of correspondence received from country printers. A firm of Marton printers - (Messrs. Thompson and Co.) wrote to the effect that in its opinion the demands of the union were fair. - The manager of the Wanganui Chronicle Co., Ltd., protested against being cited as a party to the dispute, as the company had no dispute with its employees. Mr. W. C. Cargill (Wairarapa Star) again wrote inviting the Board to sit at Masterton to hear the country employers' side of tho case. He suggested the Masterton Courthouse as the .place of 'meeting. He forwarded a similar invitation from twelve other employers, which included till but one of the master printers, of the Wairarapa,' and also printers in Pahiatua, Woodville, Dannevirke, and }?almerston North. In .answer to a question from the Chairman, Mr Walsh (President of the union) said he offered no objection to the Board sitting at Masterton. The union had no intention of calling evidence in the country. Mr. Ferguson, on behalf of the city employers, protested against the Board sitting in the country, on the ground that it would be inconvenient : to the firms he represented. Th& Chairman said the Board had not yet como to a decision upon the subject, but he would announce the action to be taken as soon as the Board had considered the matter. Evidence was then taken, Mr. Walsh calling Edwin Hicks, factory manager in a city pointing office and a practical printer, who paid he had worked at the trade as a, , compositor. He employed two competent letterpress machinists, ono receiving £3 5s and the other. £2 15s per week. He had three competent men in the lithographic department,' one receiving £3 ss, another £3, and the third £2 10s. Had a, number of improvers and boys in both departments, but no legallyindentured apprentices. Based his estimates upon the wages paid in the printing department. If the union's demands were granted the cost of production in his machine-rooms would bo increased by a little over one-third. Did not consider that all lads should be legally indentured. But when a lnd had served the stipulated period the firm always gave them a certilicate of ability and of service. Expected the foreman to give the boys instruction. To Mr. Ferguson — There were not two hours in 48 in which the services of a man were required in ' the two platen machines. Supervision of ail the machines was done by the foreman in charge of the room. The examination was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment. . On resuming this afternoon the crossexamination of Mr. Hicks wns continued by Mr. Ferguson. DISPUTES IN OTHER PARTS. [BY TEIiEGBAPIi— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, This Day. The Conciliation Board met yesterday to hear the dispute between the Auckland Operative Bakers' Union and the master bakers. The terms a^ked by the union, it was stated, were substantially the same as those which ruled in Southern towns. The Board will give its decision on Monday. CHRISTCHURCH, T^his Day. The hearing of the tanners' and fellmongers' disputo was continued before the Arbitration Court i'ihis morning. Further evidence was given on behalf of the employers to show that if tho demands were conceded trade would be di'iven from the district, and if a colonial award were given trade would be driven out of New Zealajjd to Australia.