CONCILIATION BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 176, 12 July 1911, Page 7

CONCILIATION BOARD.

DRIVERS’ DISPUTE

The Conciliation Court sat in Napier yesterday, the Commissioner (Air. P. Hally) presiding. The following assessors in connection with the drivers’ dispute were also present: —.Messrs. B. Hynes, M. Ryan. P. Muir (employees), and P. Barry. J. B. Andrew, and R. Holt (employers). Mr. S. E. Wright was present for the Employers’ Association, and Mr. C. McKenzie for the union. The Napier Drivers’ Industrial Union of Workers applied for a new award, their principal demands being for (1) higher wages, (2) shorter hours, and (3) compulsory preference. The employers wished to retain the hours and wages as under the present arrangement, with no preference. It was agreed that the scope of the award should be the same as that at present ruling, with a ten-mile limit. Numerous exemptions were granted..

At the Conciliation Council meeting yesterday afternoon, the following conditions in connection with the number of hours worked were agreed to :--(!) That the employers shall have the option of making arrangements with the employees by which they shall receive a halfholiday on Saturday, the hours worked in such cases to be 45 hours weekly. 8 hours 35 minutes on five days in the week and 5 hours 5 minutes on half-holidays ; (2) that bakers’ and grocers’ drivers shall work 52 hours per week, and such time shall include booking up at the end of each day, in accordance with the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act ; (3) that the dinner hour taken by' carters shall count as a dinner hour notwithstanding the fact that they are in charge of a horse and cart, although not actually dttving , (4) that drivers of nightsoil and rubbish carts shall work 8 hours per day. and 48 hours per week, and anvthing in excess of that to be paid as overtime ; (5) that the Napier Corporation drivers shall work not more than 48 hours a week, \iz.. hours <m four days. 9 hours on one (lay. and 5 hours on another day.

The question of rates of wages was next discussed. Mr. Ryan said that almost evert working man in the Dominion could easily earn 8 - ;l .day. which was the wages that, were being asked for bv single horse drivers.

Mr. Andrew said it was not the increase of a shilling or two in the wages that the employers objected to." but. that they should ha\e to pay all a fixed wage. Mr. P. Barry considered that. £2 6- was a fair wage, and a. good man would always be appreciated.

Clauses I. 2. 5. 6- and 7 were agreed to. and the other clauses were held over for consideration at a future date. A clause was added giving married bakers’ drivers £2/6 single E 2.-3 - per week, grocers' drivers £2 6-. Those drivers who also assist in the shop, £2 4.-. Casual Drivers. -Mr. Holt considered that 1'- an hour was sufficient pay for casual driver.—-Mr. McKenzie said the union wanted to do away with casuals as much as possible. Mr. Holt asked why they wanted to do away with casuals so much. -Mr. Ryan replied that they did not want casuals. —Mr. Barry said that he did not want them either. After a long discussion, the matter was held over until to-morrow morning.