TINSMITHS'CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 111, 12 May 1911, Page 8

TINSMITHS' CONFERENCE.

DOMINION AAYARD TO BE ASKED A special conference of delegates from thir federated Tinsmith^' Unions was 'OfieneJ in the Trades Hall this morning. "! he conlerence was called for the purpose' or taking imited action In the latiUov of obtaining an awaxvi having application to the trade in the whole of the Dominion".;; _Tho ibllo.H'ing delegates -were- present .---'Aieasrs. Fearco {Auckland}, DieV■crton (Dunedin), Riches (Claristchurec.), Noof iuid Burns (V/ellington). Mr. -Pe^ircc -naji elected chairman, and Mr. ruciuw aecietary. filter some aiscussion it was decided to_ iake as the basis of the proposed Dominion award the demands (with slight alterations) of the Wellington Tinplate suid Sheet Metal Workers' Union, which, are^t-j come before the Arbitration Court at its next bitting. These demands are for a week of fortyfour hours, work to commence at 8 a.m. <>nd er.d afc b pjn., except on Saturdays, when work &nafl cease at> noon. Provision for , overtime rates is 1 made, and. it is stimulated Chat it sha-li not be competent for an employer to e/ngioy an individual voriseL' for more than four hours' over- 1 •time in any one week while there is a ; competent journeyman out of employment. Piece-work is not to be permitted, nos- shall -employers let their work out "labour only." /Th^ minimum rate of ■wages for competent journeymen, copperismithSj sheet-metal and tinsmiths to bo <li 5d per hoar, and for competent galvanisers not less than lls per day ofi eight hotiES. Provision, is made for underrate workers. All necessary tools to •be provided by the employer. Double lime to be paid for work done on Christmas Day, Sunday, Good Friday, and 'Labour Day ; tim&and a half for tiie other I statutory holidays. - • Boys • ivprking at the trade to be 'legally indentured for live years, but three' months' probation to be allowed. Minimum wages for apprentices to be : — First year 7s 6d per week, second 12s 6d, third l?s bd, fourth 22s .6d, fifth 30s; all holidays to ba paid for. Proportion of apprentices to be one to every three journeymen or fraction thereof. Time to be paid for m travelling to and returning from itvork done outside the employer's place bf business. Preference to unionists is asked for, and an employer, when engaging a worker, shall ascertain if he is » member of the union, and, if not, his *ogiigement shall be subject to his becoming a member within one week of being engaged. All -journeymen to become members within one week of the granting of the award. A "sheet-metal" worker is also defined. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., addressed the delegates at some length. He said that he had always urged that nnions should federate, and from his place in Parliament he would endeavour to have the matter of the Domiuion awards placed on a firmer basis. The Employers' Federations were well organised, and were making a combined attack against Labour legislation. These bodies had virtually entered into a compact to block *JH such legislation. Labour was also better organised now than ever Jt was, and in view of these attacks it was es•eatial Jhat/it should have absolute solid'tehy to resist them. Mr. M'Laien v.us thanked for his address, and the conference adjourned. A further sitting is being held this afternoon.