CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 15908, 14 September 1915, Page 4

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

HOPE AND TWINE SPINNERS. OEIGINAL AWARD ASKED FOR. . Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, sat in Dunedin this morning to hear an industrial dispute that has arisen between the Dunedin Rope and Twine Spinners' Industrial Union of Workers and Donaghy's Rope and Twine Company: _ _

The application for a hearing was by the Union, who asked for an award for employees in all establishments which manufacture rope and twine of any description. Until now there has not been any award in this trade. The assessors for the unioh were Messrs Jas. Forsyth, Wm. Baker, and Steve Boreham; for the employers, Messrs R. M. Passmore and H. F. Sincock. Mr Boreham suggested that the other side should appoint a third assessor. The Act gave the council power to decide on a recommendation by a vote, and it might come to that. He wished to facilitate the making of a -seasonable recommendation. Mr Triggs said that it would make no difference whatever. -There never had been any voting. Mr Boreham went on to say that the employers' counter proposals had obviously been drawn up by persons who had no conceplion of the working of the council or tho court. For instance, the employers said that they- would not consider preference, while as a- fact the uiiion had the majority of the men enrolled, and under those conditions the employers were only trying to stave off the inevitable. The .employers could well afford to concede the demands of the workers. They moetly dealt with farmers—well-to-do meii —and shipping companies, and any 'extra cost in making could easily be paid back to the firm. There were 30 odd hands in the factory, of whom five were called youths, though he called them men. Practically the whole of the work was done by men. The industry was so dangerous to life and limb that the union thought it would be worth the employers' while, seeing that it was a most flourishing concern from the profit-making point of view, to to the men's claims. Mr Triggs asked how many men had lost life or limb within the last seven years. Mr Boreham replied -that none had been killed, but several had been injured, though not permanently. Mr Triggs said that there had been only one award in this industry, as the result of an agreement in Christchurch made in ISO 9. It expired in 1912. He took it that the industry in Otago was in competition with the industry in Canterbury, and that the men here did not want to see the industry ruined. Would it not injure the industry here if the men's demands were granted? Mr Boreham _ said they did not intend to hamper the industry,' but they did not want the men to have a starvation wage, and he wanted the men protected against further victimisation.

Mr Sincock said that several of Mr Boreham's statements were outside the facts. Donaghy's was a public company : the balance-sheets were published, and the profits therein shown were not so enormous considering the capital invested. Moreover, Donaghy's factory was not the only one to be thought of. Their company had an Auckland branch which did a large trade, principally in rope; there was a .factory at Foxton where women labor-" had always been employed; and then there was ' the Wellington Cordage Company. -In this island there were the Canterbury works, a place at Waikuku where perhaps more binder twine was turned out than at Donaghy's; also factories at Southbridge. Romahapa (where they employed women), Win'ton, and the place .which Donaghy's acquired at Invercargill two years ago. These other places could produce three or four times tho quantity of twine required in New Zealand. Besides, twine came into the Dominion free of duty; and as to rope, though there was a 20 pe_r cent, duty, or 25 per cent, if it came from, America", the shipping companies, who were the principal users, could purchase at places where \t was made by Chinese labor, and get it in without a penny of duty. Mr Triggs: Do you employ women ? Mr Sincock replied in the negative, but said that Ross did. •

Each party laid a set of proposals before the council, and a commencement was made with, the discussion by taking the hours of la,bor and the rate of pay. The men asked for a week of 44 hours, with wages ranging from £5 to £2 12s 6d. The employers proposed 48 hours per week at 10|d„ per hour for all adult male workers, and refused to make the pay by the week. Xo agreement had been reached as to any point when the council adjourned for lunch. On resuming afc 2 p.m.. after the Commissioner had had a talk with the em•plovers' assessors, Mr Triggs said that the employers had given the matter careful consideration, and were prepared to offer 48 hours per week and pay the following wages : Rope-maker Is 4id per hour, assistant Topemaker Is lJ,d~, assistant foreman Is 3d, general hands If. youths from 12s at 14 to 15 years up to"3os at 19 and 20 years, after that to come in as general hands at Is per hour. Mr Boreham said that the union would have to consider the proposals. This was a serious matter. Four men had been dispensed with—perhaps on proper grounds —but they were members of the union, and the men took it sorely, and the heads of _the_ union thought it an act of victimisation and a- fair pause for a strike. He was pleased, however, to see that the employers had come down with an advance, and this offer would be considered. If the trouble could %e settled he would bo pleased, though it was a, good case to take-' to the .Arbitration Court. Mr .Sincock : If our proposals are not accepted we are just as ready to face the Court as Mr Boreham is. The council adjourned till 3.30. to give the men time, for consideration.