KARORI DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 7

KARORI DISPUTE

HOUSING JOB

APPEAL DISMISSED

An appeal against the decision of a disputes committee concerning conditions on the Karori housing job in June last has been dismissed by Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M., in the Industrial Magistrate's Court. The dispute arose in connection with a claim under clause 6 (c) of the New Zealand Carpenters' and Joiners' Award, made by the carpenters employed •by Housing Construction, Ltd., on the housing job at Sunshine Estate, Karori. It was considered by the men that theconditions on or about June 14 last were such as to warrant the extra payment of 3d per hour prescribed by clause 6 (c), and a deputation accordingly waited on the manager of the company to discuss this and certain other claims. After visiting the job, the manager informed the men that the firm could not see its way to grant the additional payment "as conditions on the job were no worse than those on any other job at that time of th 9 year." Referring to other complaints regarding alleged insufficient shed accommodation and the so-called chain system, the manager stated that these matters would be rectified. At a meeting held during the lunch period on June 15, the manager's decision was communicated to the men, who thereupon decided to cease work until the firm made some provision for the extra payment claimed. No work was performed for a number of days, but the men subsequently returned to the job on the understanding that the matter would be referred to a disputes committee. The committee duly met on June 26, and after visiting the job and hearing evidence, the majority of the committee felt that the Karori housing jol» could not be classed as a preference one in that no special conditions presented themselves, and that there \ was no justification for increasing the rate by 3d per hour. The committee thought that the chain system should be retained, but that, where possible, changes should be made on request in so far as they did not affect the balance of the gangs. In his reserved judgment issued today Mr. Gilmour said: "The committee having not only heard the evidence but seen the job for themselves, were in the best position to act as. judges in the matter, particularly in view of their practical knowledge of the industry, and I am unable to say that the decision arrived at was unreasonable in the circumstances. The appeal i« accordingly dismissed." ',