SHOP ASSISTANTS.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1927, Page 2

SHOP ASSISTANTS.

WEPT f?OAST GENERAL AWARD. DISPUTE GOES TO COURT. Commissioner llagger presided over tin* 'Conciliation Council which sat at the Court. House Reefton, yesterday morning. Messrs J. Goodall (Greymouth) and Weekes (Westport) represented the Shop Assistants, ami Messrs Prime (Employers’ Federation), Kim Williams, and Gibbard (Westport) were for the employers. The dispute as to the general award in the shop assistants’ industry was that first taken by the Council, the 1 Other disputes being those of the grocers, chemists, and butchers, to be taken later. 1. was evident from the first that there would be a deadlock, each claim and counter claim being, in turn, refused by the opposing parties. When the first few clauses ha,d been thus disputed, Air Prime (the Employers’ Federation spokesman) asserted that the Union's assessors had come prepared for a deadlock. Air Goodall: “We told you some time ago that there was no hope of agreeing when there was such a contyast in claims.” Air Prime: “Well to see if it is worth while carrying on, I will ask you (but without committing the employers at this stage) if you would be prepared to come to nil agreement on the basis of the existsing (local) award, with a readjustment of lhe wages clauses; and in case of an agreement 1 will undertake to guarantee that the employers will not interfere with the existing hours.” Air Goodall: “We cannot agree to that. We might, however, be prepared to acoep; the provisions of the Dominion Award for the industry.” Air Prime (for employers): “We cannot work on that.’’ After refusing to work on the basis of the Dominion Award, Air Prime again asked: “Will you not discuss the existing (local) award?’’ Mr Goodall: “We cannot agree to that. We represent the New Zealand Shop Assistants’ Federation.’’ Commissioner Haggcr: “A'ou should not come to the Conciliation table with your hands tied.” Air Goodall: “Can we not have an adjournment, till such time as Air ( roskerrv can attend?’’ Commissioner Bagger: “That is impossible! ’’ The Commissioner continued: “The only thing 1 can do is to refer the dispute io the Arbitration Court, without recommendations, and the enquiry will commence at the first clause.’’ Air I’lime: “'Phis is the first time 1 have been concerned in a dispute in which no recommendations have been agreed on to refer to the Court.” The Conciliation will at Reefton today deal with lhe disputes in regard to the awards of the grocers, butchers, and chemists.