INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1936, Page 14

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

DEARER. LOAF 9

[PEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, July 24

A possible increase in the price °i bread was indicated at Conciliation Council proceedings between the New Zealand Federated Bakers and Pastrycooks and Related Trades Employees’ Industrial Association of Workers and the New Zealand Master Bakers and Pastrycooks. Mr. E. J. Watson, for the employees, said the employers were offering reduced wages, yet they were looking to the Government to increase the price of bread. An application on behalf of the Christchurch employers for pastrycooks' to be excluded from the proceedings was refused. The following are the main claims of the employees, those of the respondents being given in parenthesis: — Hours, 40 a week (44). WagesForeman baker or pastrycook, £6 ( £5 10/-1; journeyman baker or pastrycook, £5/10/- (£5). Doughman, £6; ovensman, £6; bakehouse labourers, £5 (£4/0/6); packers £5. Female workers; same wages as males for doing the same class of work. Females employed as journeywomen: Threequarters of the rate of a, journeyman. Provision is sought for employing females as apprentices. Overtime —Double time (time and a half). The proceedings were not concluded. The Conciliation Council adjourned late to-night until to-morrow. The whole of to-day’s sitting was occupied with the consideration of wages and hours of work, discussiion centring mainly on the question of daylight baking. No decision had been reached when the council adjourned.

GROCERY EMPLOYEES

WELLINGTON, July 24.

Whether grocery shops are to close on Saturdays, after September 1, is to be decided soon by the Arbitration Court. Applications from shop assistants’ unions for amendments to existing awards to provide for a 40-hour five-day week, were heard by the court to-day. The applications were opposed bv grocers on a number of grounds, including that of public interest, it being argued that a five-day week m the trade would cause general inconvenience. Mr. W. E. Anderson, of Auckland, for the employers, said workers in the grocery trade had applied for a fiveday 40-hour week, and similar applications had been made by the butchers’ unions, and retail shop assistants unions; and in all these applications the court was asked to decide whether shops were to be open on Saturday mornings. It was a matter of national importance, affecting not only retail shopkeepers, but also the general public. The employers opposed the applications, and submitted that the Legislature had considered the matter, and had decided that shops and offices should be open on 5| days a week, when the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill was before Parliament. Many lines stocked by grocers were perishable, and a long week-end would force retailers to expend large sums on refrigerators. Other lines deteriorated quickly if they could not be sold. He also emphasised the increased competition from dairies and small shops, if the grocers were forced to close on Saturday mornings. Mr. A. W. Croskery for the employees, contended, when discussing competition by small shops, that there was adequate provision for the control of after-hours trading, if the Master Grocers’ Federation liked to take action. Mr. Anderson had argued that purchases tor picnics would have to be made on Saturday morning; but the workers would not be in town to purchase them. They would be on the playing field or at the seaside, enjoying the long week-end. He held that a 40-hour week was not impracticable, and that the public would become used to grocers’ shops closing on Saturdays. Decision was reserved.

BUTCHERS AND LAUNDRIES

WELLINGTON, July 24.

Application was made to the Arbitration Court to-day by 519 master butchers for an extension of hours of work to 44, to be worked between 7 a.in. and 5 p.m. on week-days and 6 a.m. and noon on Saturday. Butchers’ assistants applied for an amendment to provide for a 40-hour week, with the abolition of Saturday work. Decision was reserved. The laundries have decided not to, proceed with their applications for an extension of hours of work to 44 a week, and their applications have been withdrawn from the Arbitration Court.

AUCKLAND TAXI-DRIVERS

AUCKLAND, July 24.

An industrial agreement to operate till the end of the year, unless superseded by an award, has been signed by the Auckland Drivers’ Union and representatives of the three largest taxi firms. The main provisions are: —

Minimum wage, £4/5/- weekly, plus commission.

Hours, 51 a week, of six shifts not exceeding eight hours and a half each.

Overtime. 2/6 an hour. Wage of casual drivers, 2/6 an hour ordinary time, 3/6 for time in excess of eight hours and a half.