TIMBER INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1933, Page 3

TIMBER INDUSTRY

ENGINE DRIVERS' WAGES

A VARIATION SOUGHT

In view of the extent to which tho timber industry has been affected by the depression, tho employers in the Wellington industrial district sought a variation in the terms and conditions of employment of engine drivers employed by sawmillers in the district. The applicants were the Marton Sash, Door, aud Timber Company, Ltd., Geo. Gardner and Sons, Hukapapa, King Country, and Smyth Bros, and Boryer, Mataroa, ;the respondents being the Wellington Stationary, Traction, and Locomotive Engine Drivers and their Assistants Industrial Union. The hearing of the dispute was commenced before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. P. Hally, this morning, and the following were the assessors:—Employers: Messrs. A. Seed (Wellington), J. A. Bush (Marton), and H. T. Smyth (Mataroa). Employees: Messrs. J. Read, A. G. Stuart, and J. Warren. Mr. Seed said that owing to the slump employers in country sawmills were unable to pay the current wages. Failing an agreement in regard to wages, tho employers wished to be free of an award so that all- sawmill employees would be on an equal basis. He agreed with Mr. Read that if no agreement were reached the engine drivers' award would lapse only so far as it concerned engine drivers engaged in the sawmilling industry. In proposing that the engine drivers' wages should be reduced, Mr. Seed said the fact that bushmen, whoso work was much more arduous, received only about 12s or 14s a day, as compared with 16s received by engine drivers, caused some dissatisfaction in the sawmills. Tho employees, said' Mr. Read, could not accept the wages offered by the employers. Under the present. award, for instance, tho holder of a first-class engine driver's certificate received I7s 8d a day, reduced to 15s lid by tho 10 per cent. cut. There was a big disparity in the offer by the employers of Us. In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Seed said the employers could increase their wages offer by very little. Mr. Read said that about the lowest the workers could go would be 14s 8d a day- for a first-class man, plus Is 3d for getting up steam. The proceedings were adjourned till this afternoon, to enable the parties to reconsider their proposals. NO AGREEMENT. When-the council resumed thi3 afternoon it was announced that the parties had been nnable to come to an agreement on the question of wages affecting engine-drivers in the sawmilling industry in the- Wellington industrial district, outside a radius of 25 miles of the city of Wellington. This will lead automatically to the cancellation of the award covering these workers 60 days from today. Mr. Seed expressed appreciation of the manner in which Mr. Read and his colleagues had endeavoured to meet the employers. The employers, he said, had a very high opinion of Mr. Read and his union. The sawmillers would be advised of the result of the proceedings and the employers' proposals would bo circulated among them, with a recommendation that wages below those contained in the citation should not be paid.