GARDENERS' WAGES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 91, 14 October 1920, Page 8

GARDENERS' WAGES

BEFORE THE CONCILIATION COUNCIL

A meeting of the Conciliation Council was held this morning to consider a dispute filed by the Wellington Gardeners' Employees' Industrial Union of Workers. Mr. W. Newton (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and the assessors were: For the union—Messrs. T. Healy, H. Lea, and H. Dawson, with Mr. A. Col- j lins as agent. For the employers—Mr. M'Kenzie, for the Wellington City Council ; Mr. A. Cowie, Petone Borough Council; and Mr. T. Waugh, for the nurserymen at Lower Hutt, who were also cited. M.r. Waugh urged that the dispute had been sprung upon them. One of the parties cited was a dairy farmer, and should bo struck out of the list. He also objected to the inclusion of other names in the list, on the ground that they were not employers of labour. That only left himself, the Wellington City Council, and the I'etone Borough Council. The Commissioner said it did not follow that because a man did not employ labour he would never employ it. Mr. Waugh said he was a market gardener and a fruit-grower, and fruitgrowers could not carry on the business on the terms laid down in the demands. They were growing food for Wellington, and had to compete with growers from all parts of the Dominion. Already it was understood a special truck had been put on the Main Trunk train to bring fruit, etc., down from Auckland. He had no objection to the gardeners of Wellington having a union, but he did object to Lower Hutt growers being brought in. They were being superseded in the supply of flowers by the Chinese, who supplied flowers and produce at half the price that i2ie European must chargewhile paying good wages. They therefore asked exemption on the ground that they were market gardeners pure and simple : unless things improved, in the next 4 or 5 years there would be no nurseries in the Hutt Valley. The demands made ■were extreme—26s a day for eight hours and 100 days in the year no work. That could not be carried out in regard to fruit-growing. He applied first that the market gardeners at Lower Hutt be struck out.

Mr. W. B. Hardy, cited as a party to the dispute, said he had not employed labour lor ten years. : Mr. A. Collins contended that the men ismployed by Mr. Waugh and Mr. Hardy had been doing work outside market gardening. He could see that the case would have to go before the Court, and then they would be ready to argue the tase in regard to vegetables. The Commissioner said it was not reasonable to keep Mr. Hardy's name on the list. His name would be struck out, leaving it to the union to have his name added.

Mr. Waugh also applied to have Mr. S. Knight struck out. He was only a. dairy farmer and employed no labour. The name of Mr. Knight was struck out of the list, as was also the name of F. Westbury.

Mr. M'Kenzie applied for the exemption of the Wellington City Council, pending a settlement between the council and the proposed Municipal Employees' Union.

Mr. Collins said the City Council had been putting the matter off for twelve months. Many of the Corporation employees were joining the union which was now before the Conciliation Council. "I waoit to tell the City Council," he said, "that if they_ are looking for trouble they are going to get it." Mr. M'Kenzie said the City Council was not desirous of dodging its obligations in regard to wages and hours.

It was decided that the City Council representatives meet the union's representatives before the Commissioner on the 27th ;nst., at 10.30 a.m.

The claims of the union included a 40-hour week; wages for custodian, groundsman, fo-remaji, and yardsman, £6 a week.

Mr. Waugh said that he was perfectly willing to pay good wages, but he had to put up with Chinese competition, and ho would have to go out of the nursery business if the claims of the union were allowed.

Mr. Collins: "That is your business." Mr. Waugh: "I shall not dispute the wages; I shall simply close down the business."

The Commissioner eaid that at present he was the only person practically before the Court in regard to the dispute. Mr. Waugh said there were several others who ought to, be parties to the dispute. As there was no possibility of arriving nt an agreement the proceedings were adjourned until the 27th inst.