LABOUR PARTY NEWS Grey Women’s Branch Records Successful Year

Grey River Argus, 23 March 1949, Page 3

LABOUR PARTY NEWS Grey Women’s Branch Records Successful Year

A successful year was reported at the imrd annual meeting oi the Greyinoutn women's Branca of the New z.eaiaiid nciuuux Faity when the president, tiie non. Miss M. Anderson, M.L.n., presided over a large attendance.

tn welcoming members, Miss Anderson gave a detailed report of the

year's work and referred especially to the League of Youth which the oranch had sponsored. Mrs K. O’hirien had given an early lead and Mi's .1. Minchin had toiled hard to assist in getting the League on a sound footing. Miss Anderson thanked those who had assisted at the stn> days, and made mention of the fine cup donated for women speakers, urging all members to take part in the annual competition. The Christmas tree runction had been another outstanding success. Miss Anderson extended thanks to all officers or the branch lor their co-operation and imally appealed to all to leave nothing undone to return Laoour to this year. Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr and Mrs Williams for their work at the weekly card tournaments, trie Greymouth branch for the use of the Lyceum Hall and the auditor, Mr J. H. Minchin.

Reporting for the social committee, Mrs Minchin said that the highlight of the year’s work had been the interbranch social when a debate between Runanga and Greymouth was won by the latter. Dances in December and January had done much to assist the finance's. Members had been actively engaged on the Christmas tree and the tact that the children had so greatly enjoyed themselves had been sufficient recompense ror the labour entailed. Steady progress was bc;m made with the 45’s tournaments which provided entertainment for the older members and revenue for the branch. Members had done a great deal to ensure the success of the shop day. The trips to Lake Mahinapua organised by the League of Youth had been most successful and the branch had assisted the younger members in the arrangements. Thanks wem extended to the branch members for their support and cooperation at all times. 'The balance sheet, showing a favourable financial position was adopted.

’The election of officers resulted as follows:—

President: Hon. Miss Anderson (reelected); hon. vice-president, Mrs K. O’Brien; vice-president, Mesdames J. Minchin and P. J. McGrath; secret-ary-treasurer, Mrs M. G. Pfahlert (reelected ); executive, Mesdames O’Brien, D. ' Owen, M. Baker, E. Gough and T. S. Williams; delegate to L.R.C., Mrs M. G. Pfahlert. (reelected) ; auditor, Mr J. H. Minchin (re-elected); social committee, Mesdames J. Minchin, M. Baker, R. Groom, E. Gough, D. Owen, I. McGrath, M. Pfahlert. F. M. Harvey. Vv. Green, E. Cooper, E. Haddock and Miss M. Minchin; trustees, Hon. M. Anderson and Mrs Pfahlert (re-elect-ed). In future all meetings of the branch are to be held at 2.15 p.m. instead of alternative 2.30 and 7.30 p.m. meetings. The Rapahoe branch’s letter of invitation to their social on Saturday next was received and the president exhorted all members who could do so to attend this function.

viously applicable. A new provision is that of bar manager, whose rate is £7 a week. Housekeepers have also been introduced into the award, with a rate of £4 10s a week. Barmen, barmaids, bottle store hands, and head waiters have received an increase of 8s 9d a week to £5 12s 6d. Porter-barmen and waiters will now receive £5 a week an increase of 7s 4d; night porters and night cleaners, general hands assisting in bar more than relieving one day a week, day porters, general hands, pantrymen, laundrymen, cleaners, and other non-bar and nonkitchen domestic hands, £4 18s (6s); female general hands, £3 15s (4s 3d); head waitresses, three or more on staff, £3 12s 6d (7s); laundresses, linenmaids, waitresses, and other domestic iemale workers, £3 8s down to £3 6s, according to classification. Rates for casual labour and for workers engaged for special occasions have also been increased. All the rates quoted may be subject to the following increments: If board is not provided, £1 2s a week; if lodgings is not provided, Ils a week; if meals are not provided on day off, 3s for each such day.

A new clause requires that the staff shall be instructed to the iuilest extent practicable in firefighting methods and the location or Tire escapes.

In so far as the rates of remuneration are concerned, the award is deemed to have come into force on December 24, 1948. Other conditions apply as from March 18, 1949, and the term of the award continues in force until April 30, 1951. REGISTER OF BARMEN In a memorandum to the award, the Court adds:— “The following clause was agreed to by the assessors, but the Court is not satisfied that the insertion of such a provision in an award is within its jurisdiction: — “ ‘A Register of Barmen.—lt shall bo competent for the New Zealand United Licensed Victuallers’ Industrial Association of Employers and the .New Zealand Federated Hotel, Restaurant, and Related Trades’ Industrial Association of workers to set upa joint committee to formulate and carry out a scheme for the registration of barmen, and the issue of registration certificates to the workers concerned.’ “The assessors desire the following statement to be recorded: ‘The token payment agreed to bv the workers for Sunday work under this award .is accepted in consideration of the increases granted under other, clauses and is Hot to be interpreted as a withdrawal bv the workers of the principle of double time for work performed on Sunday and is not to bn used to prejudice future workers clainls.’ ”