CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 11658, 19 September 1901, Page 1

CONCILIATION BOARD.

GROCERS’ DISPUTE. Previous to the rehearing of the Grocers’ dispute, which was before the Board on the Ist and 28ch August, a conference., was held, between tho union representatives, City grocers, and country grocers. Those represented at the Conference were:—City— Messrs A. MTarlane and J. M. Gkurow ; country—Messrs W. Auld (Waitahuna), A. K.rkpatric (Waikonaiti), R. Mulligan (Oamaru), J. B. M'Kinley (representing Herbert and Co., Lawrence). At the Conference it was agreed that if the country grocers were retained as parties to the dispute (a course to which they look exception), the clause referring to holidays, overtime, and age of youths employed should be modified to suit country requirements. I On the Board meeting, Mr J. 15. M'Kinley said that country grocers and storekeepers had met that morning, and they had decided to usk to be discharged as parties to the dispute. Country storekeepers were in an entirely different footing from City grocers. They carried on a varied business,, and their employes required a more varied experience than city employes. Of course, if it was compulsory for country storekeepers to remain parties to the proceedings it could not bo helped. Mr Farquhar: You wish to be left out, or dealt with separately? Mr M'Kinley; Yes ; that is the position. The Chairman ; Before the Board can do that they will require to hear evidence. Mr Baird, as representing the union, said he understood that in conference a few I minutes before country grocers had agreed to an amended reference, and he thought IT would be much better for them to remain parties to the present proceedings, and save themselves from being brought in by-and-bye. Mr Farquhar : The terms you have agreed upon in conference may suit you, Mr M'Kinley. The Board can make uu award upon those lines, and if you do not agree it will still be open to you to take the case I to the Arbitration Court. ) Mr A. Kirkpatric (representing the country storekeepers) said in tbe country the business of ironmonger, baker, grocer, butcher, etc., were frequently carried on in the one building, and it seemed they could now be made parties to a dispute 'in each department. If there was some finality about it there would be some satisfaction, j After some further argument, it was ■ agreed that the amended agreement arrived , at in conference should form the basis of j the award to be made by the Board. Mr M'Kinley (after conference with the I country storekeepers) agreed to the course suggested, in order that the proceedings might be shortened. Ihe full text of the amended agreement : is not yet available, but the main concessions made to the country grocers are the making the age of boys fourteen instead of sixteen, the striking out of Labor Day and the grocers’ picnic from the list of holidays, provided that the number of holidays be not reduced, and the allowing of three weeks free of overtime for stock-taking. These concessions to apply only to country stores.