SOFT GOODS TRADE DISPUTE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 31 July 1918, Page 5

SOFT GOODS TRADE DISPUTE

AUCKLAND, July 30. A dispute filed by the Auckland city retail soft goods employees came before the Conciliation Council this morning. The Commissioner drew attention to the fact that the dispute was before the Council in November last, when, owing to a petition being put in, signed by nearly 700 employees, stating that they were satisfied with the conditions and did not desire an award, no settlement war arrived at in the Council, and the dispute was passed on to the Court which made no award. The union had now amended its proposals, reducing the area and excluding buyers, heads of departments, and the clerical staffs Jrom the claims. In the discussion the employers • adhered to counter proposals to the following effect: "The employers cited do not accede to the demands of the union, and are unaware of any circumstances which have arisen in this industry since the Court gave its decision in May last—that no award was desirable —to now warrant them in agreeing to an award being made." The matter, therefore, was again referred to the Court.