REDUCING HANDS AT IRON FOUNDRIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 7

REDUCING HANDS AT IRON FOUNDRIES

EFFECT OF NEW AWARD. FRESH CHARGE 15 PER CENT. In view of the statements made concerning the condition of the iron trade in New Zealand during the hearing of the Wellington Metal Workers' dispute^ before the Arbitration Court, and the alleged inability of the trade to meet the men's demands, a Post representative to-day invited Mr. H. F. Allen, who represented the employers before the Court, to mfike a statement as to how the trade in Wellington will be affected by the award just filed in the metal workers' dispute. "Mr. Allen, in reply, stated that the Wellington Metal Workers Assistants' award was considered at a meeting of the Wellington ironmasters last night, when it was severely condemned/ Mr. Allen proceeded : "Considering the evidence given by the employers to the Court as to the shrinkage of trade, and the fact that evidence was also given as to the considerable reduction in the number of hands now employed, the employers held that the award given is totally against the weight of evidence. They also considered that the granting of preference was quite unwarranted. The employers stated they recognised that the present outlook of the trade is anything but encouraging, and they hold that the granting of higher wages to unskilled workers is suicidal and will prove to be against the interest of the worker himself, as it will assuredly mean a reduction of hands in foundries. Owing to industrial unrest the cry for higher wages and shorter hours is creating stagnation in industrial undertakings. While the country people were never more prosperous than at present the iron trade, for example, is in a more depressed .condition than it has been for the past thirty years." Asked as to what extra charge the award in increased wages and improved conditions, placed upon the industry, Mr. Allen replied that the advance granted was, roughly, 15 per cent. "This," he said, " will be pretty serious in some cases where structural engineers are working under contracts, the prices for labour upon whiqh they based their quotations being the existing rates. As one of the ironmasters wa-s leaving the meeting last night he said, 'Well, I know that on account of the condition of the trade in our shop and the increased wages given to unskilled workers there is going to be a reduction of hands i our factory right straight away.'"