CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 1

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

THEATRICAL WORKERS’ DISPUTE The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H. Hugger) sat tin's morning to hear a dispute between John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd., Thomas A. O’Brien, the Picture Theatres, Ltd., and the Dunedin Theatrical and Shows Employees (other than stage hands) Industrial Union of Workers. It was also asked that the employers at the following theatres be made party to the proceedings:—Green Island, Mosgicl, “Our Allies,” and Roslyn. Mr A. S. Cookson acted as agent for the applicants, and Mr J. Robinson for respondents. The applicants’ assessors were Messrs John Hamer, AV. T. Dallas, and J. L. Johnston. Respondents’ assessors did not appear. The statement of claim included a discussion on the hours of work, wages, holidays, casual work, overtime, and Sunday work for operators, ticket-sel-lers, ticket-takers, ushers, and caretakers. Mr Robinson slated that an agreement was fixed for the term of twelve months with the idea of allowing all the awards to expire at that time for the sake of getting a dominion agreement. it was desired that the case bo adjourned pending a dominion dispute. It had been tiled, but the date bad not yet been fixed. Mr Cookson said that the conditions varied in the different centres, there being 110 comparison between the work, for instance, in Dunedin and Wellington. In the latter place the shows went continuously from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. without a break. Therefore it was difficult to make an award to suit the varying conditions. After brief discussion it was decided that the dispute be referred to the Arbitration Court with no recommendation.