ARBITRATION COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12573, 7 August 1901, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

SITTING IN CHRISTCHURCH. The sitting of the Arbitration Court, was resumed in the Provincial Council Chambers yesterday before Mr Justice Cooper, President, and Messrs S. Brown and R. Slater, arbitrators of the employers and the workers respectively. THE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION. The case brought by the Typographical Union against newspaper proprietors and ma-stej; printers in Christchurch was called on. His Honor stated that an industrial agreement' had been handed into Court, signed by both parties, but Messrs Smith, Anthony and Sellars, one firm cited, had not signed. Mr W. S. Smith, a member of the firm, said that the type-setting machine used by him (the Hattersley) was different from those used in the newspaper offices, and the general conditions in the agreement were not suitable. He did not object to the rate of pay demanded, ai his firm had been paying more than that set forth. He asked that special conditions should be laid down for the machine ho nsed in his office. It was a jobbing office, and the supply of “copy” was intermittent. A girl worked the machine; she was paid 5d a thousand ens, and earned about 25s for thirty-six hours’ work. He objected to the system of probationers, as ho did not think that he should have to pay a person for learning the machine. Messrs P. Y. Wilson and J. Roberts represented the Union. The former said that the machine used by the firm entered into competition with hand -labour. The eaime kind of machine was used in Sydney, and in a newspaper office there if a man was not able to set 3500 ens an hour after ho had been at the machine for three months, he was disqualified. Therefore, an efficient operator should be put on the machine. . His Honor suggested that the Union delegates shotdd confer with Mr Smith, and endeavour to lay down special conditions for the working of the machine. Mr Roberts said that it was in the interests of the girl who was working the machine, as well as-in those of the trade, that she should be properly qualified. Mr Brown; If you turn her off, and put a mail in her place, what becomes of her? Mr Roberts; Slake her a compositor. Mr Smith can now turn her' off at any time, and she is nob qualified to get work elsewhere. Mr Brown: It would not be just to the girl to have her sent off. Mr Roberts; Wo do not want to do

Mr Brown: Generally speaking, compos item try to put the g:rk out. Mr Roberts: That is not so. Our Union has framed rules t» admit lady compos-itcrx. Mr Brown: Yes, but they are not co efficient, yet yon ask the. sax® wages for them. Mr Roberts: It has not been provtel that they are not as efficient as men. The case wao adjourned to enable the parties to confer. ' When the Court was about to adjourn at lunch-time, Mr Wilson announced that, as a result of the conference, an industrial: agreement would be entered into with Messrs Smith, Anthony and Sellars. His Honor said, he was very glad to hear .he announcement. THE PRINTERS’ MACHINISTS. The case brought by the- .Canterbury Lithographic and Letterpress Printers’ Machinists' Ur.irm against newspaper proprietors a*J master printers in Christchurch was called on. The employers were ■ represented bv Messrs J. C.* Wilkin, G. H. Whitcombe, O. j. Weeks, and P. Sdig, and Uto Union . by Messrs J. Williams, H. Gold thorps, and W. Berry. ■ Mr W. C. , Aiken, of Messrs Aifccji,antfe Willis, asked that the award of the (Tan; 1 should not apply to a contract entered into between his firm and the Trade Auxiliary Company. His Honor said that the contract would be protected for the time set forth in it. Tire Union, asks for forty-four hours of labour a week, a minimum wage of £3 a week, certain holidays, preference of employment to Unionists, overtime at the rate of time-and a half, at proportion of one apprentice to three journeymen, all apprentices to serve a term of six years. Conditions'of labour for-apprentices were also set forth. .: . . , A statement submitted by the masters set forth that the recognised regular hours of work should - be fixed by each employer, forty-eight hours being considered a full week, beyond this overtime rates to be paid; any time lost by any workman in iny one week "to' be deducted, from overtime worked by him during''that,week, brfoto ne shall be. paid overtime rates'; the mini-; mm "wages to journeymen to bo at the rate of £2 5s a week of forty-eight hours; preference of employment to be given to Unionists; when members of the Union and non-members are employed together, no distinction to bsmade, and both to work in harmony, and to receive equal pay for equal work; the proportion of apprentices ■ to. be one for the office, one for the first two ■ journeymen permanently employed, one for the next .three journeymen permanently employed, and One additional for every five journeymen permanently -implored ; no. employer to have more than five apprentices; rates of wages for apprentices are stipulated, and it is claimed that apprentices should -nob be indentured. It is also stipulated that every employer is entitled to full control over the management of his factory, and to make such regulations as he deems necessary for timekeeping and good order. Evidence in, support of the Union’s demands was given by J. W. Simms, A. E. Simpson, G. P. Rnshton, J. Robertson, W. Berry caiul H. A. Burns. W. G. Simpson and 3M. MTnncs also gave evidence in support of the Union, on the lines given before the Conciliation Board. Witnesses were then called by the masters. James Gamble stated that he was tbs manager of the jobbing department at the “ Lyttelton Times,” and had served a term at the machines. There was no more danger in. connection with printing machines than was associated with any other kind of machinery. The hours asked for by the Union would ha very inconvenient for his department, He thought that seven years would be better than six years, as the term of apprenticeship. The skill required for compositors and machinists was about equal. He thought that £2 5s a week was a fair minimum wage. T. A.,.Stringer ■ stated he had. been connected with the trade for eighteen years, and lie agreed that £2 5s was a fair minimum. wage. It would take a. man fully seven years to make himself thoroughly -acquainted with all branches of the trade. - H. T. Hayden, employed at Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs’s, said that machin-' ists were paid different rates of wages, in accordance with'their ability and the nature of their work. H. J. Weeks ■ stated that in his opinion £2 'a week'"would be a‘fair average rate of wages fer machinists at present. There were different classes of workers in the machii.l3 rooms. When his firm was fullhanded, it. employed five’ machinists, the 'wages being £3, £2 10s and 132. New machinery had lately been introduced, and the public required a -high, class of work. Therefore, 'seven, yeans would not be too long a term of apprenticeship. He suffered from “Competition, with -other parts of the. world. 'His business would bo completely disorganised if the Union’s demands were granted. . ’. H. D. Pine, in charge of the jobbing do-' partmenfr at- the Christchurch “Press,” stated that if too minimum wage was fixed at £5, there would be less work, and some of the men employed at present would have to be got rid- of. : He agreed that a competent inachiaist required the r-vuac amount of skill as a competent compositor, and tbs* the term of apprenticeship should be for seven years. ,G.. ,H., Whitcombe said that there were sovei’al grades of work in- his office, and the .'-pay -to-machinists varied accordingly. , s If there was a minimum, wag© of £5, the effect on his -business .would be very serious. The effect’ would be specially felt at the factory in, Christchurch, where the firm printed diaries. In regard to educational work, his firm had sent, .to'Victoria this year’ several thousand school bocks, and it. did a large business in that respect with Australia-. A rise in the minimum wage would compel him to print some of the ■school books elsewheye.- .Tt .would „SS.; exceedingly difficult to work, his, factory /m forty-four hours a week. In England, the machinists worked fifty-two and a- haL hours a week. The wage for a skilled machinest in New South Waits was £2 12s. J. G. Fraser, a master .printer, stated that there were different classes of printers’ machining work, and those employed m the higher branches should receive, higher wa-res than- others. From £2 to £2 5s was a fair wage to be- paid by the -small men, who were competing with the large firms. A J. Ohainey stated, that he was a machinist earning £5 a week. Some men would be’worth- £3 a week after being at the 'work for seven years, others would never .be worth that sum. (A. minimum wage of £2 5s a week would bo a fair "ate for ordinary , machinists. T ' Denham said that he earned £2 a week, chief!v a* printing bags, and was satisfied with his wages. He had been informed that if. the minimum was- feed at £3 a week he would have- to leave. _ A. H. Lindsay, a printers cleric, said his experience led,him to the conclusion that there was- no room to increase the wages of machinists.. This was all the evidence. Mr Wilkin said that too masters had endeavoured to come to-an amicable arrant;* ■ merit before tlie dispute ivns- talvcrv be. ore the Court, bub had -not been successful. The masters had, therefore, framed a statement. which was compiled chiefly from, awards made by the Court, and v, as nur and. reasonable; It would certainly be *n- ' convenient to work one branch of a newspaper office forty-four hours a- week wMe another branch was worked forty-eigiu hours. Tho masters to- have too right to regulate the hours in their offices. As to wages, the employers desired to oeal fairly -with-'fili-e men, -and trot to- beat- tbein down to llio smallest possible ivap. It had been shown in evidence that there was ■a variety of work to tho machine- room. If the minimum was £3, tn f employers would have to look round for the best men, and there were young

cd now who did not eonsicirr that they were competent to earn 53 a week. The employer.? at present-always end.avc-ur-ed to keep the young men, even if they werejnot offite competent, until they .could Snd'tmr.o o-.hsr employment. If {-he omplorcrs had not given the- young madiia;s'.; ihs wages.they asked, they had given as much as could lie afforded. It would be unfortunate if the -Court granted tho Union's demands, as many young men would have to seek work elsewhere. The masters ted.always been prepared to give gcod wage-.-, to gocsi men. Skilled workmen could always command g-c-c-d wages in almc-.t any office in' (he - colony. It had keen proved that the minimum wag? was not by any ntear.« the- maximum, -as employers were, even now paying seme *of iheir men more than £2 6.-. With regard to preference -of employment, the masters desired to employ unionists. The suggestions of the masters' in regard to overtime were fgir. Is way very regrettable that men should have to work long hours in, connection with ‘ newspapers; but it had to he-done,, and - a little relief fihonld he given •to tile new-papers when the work rvyay required, on holidays. The demand fen* 4 tuni" .m i a halt was excessive 5 lime and’a third would he sufficient-. A great deal had been said about apprentices. It they did not-learn their trade, it was -owing to ilia want of 'inclination-, on their part, a iid Win? not the fault -of (he masters, who .certainly did what they could in th-a matter. IS was very disappointing, to -the masters to be told that tho bids, after six or seven years work, had nob karnt their trade. It was dear, ho thought, that the masters must control their offices,'-and say what class of work the lads should do. Ho quite agreed with the remarks made the previous week by his Honor about boys being bound. The masters had' a responsibility in that respect, and ' should be allowed to tench the lads in the waiy they thought ba-i't in the interests of tii.a lads, themselves. He drew'attention to the fact that many increases in wages were being made. No doubt it was tho intention of . the Legislators tha t these .-increases “Should' b-3, passed on to the public. , Pfe' tsibiy • that-- would b?, .the ultimate result"; but for a- considerable time- it-was the employers who would have to meet, the- increases, . land they would have to ■ do it out of their burn pockets; ■ There wasa great strain on various businesses to meet the excessive rates of wages -demanded. He had no objection -to (its principle of tho Conciliation and '.Arbitration 'Act. He thought that it was rather a good thing to have ah Arbitration Court. His Honor : . But you might have , too much of it? .Mr Wilkin said that that was the position. The increases in wages were a very great trial to the employers. If there were to be any increase : iu wages, it should be slow - and gradual, so that -the employers would have- an opportunity to regulatetheir businesses and pass the increase on to the shoulders of the public. That could no* be done as 'rapidly as His Honor made; an, award;. The masters suffered from- ,-aconsiderable amount of competition. Only recently, in Christchurch,..tenders had been called for in connection with printing, They were- a little' higher than the price given before, and fresh tenders ,would be called. They would probably be advertised in other newspapers throughout, the colony, and it- was possible that the- work might go out of Christchurch altogether. He would point out that out of 'the twelve offices in ChrisfchUr-eh only seven would be affected by the- award, and the small 1 offices, doing their -own work, would have opportunities for under-cutting. Mr Whitcombe endorsed Mr Wilkin’s remarks. Mr Selig said that the demands- of the Union, if .granted, would- hamper the- production of the weekly newspapers in Christchurch. The proprietors here were brought into competition with the- English, and foreign illustrated newspapers, which came. in. free. A high class of work was -being don® in -connection with the -illustrated newspapers in Christchurch, and, instead of being hampered, they should receive every encouragement. 1 He, also • endorsed;, what Mr-Wilkin had said. . ; Mr Williams said that there’- had 'not been anything to. show wire compositors and machinists should-be placed on. different, footings. He was. willing to- concede the -seven years’ term of apprenticeship,but h-o thought that when the boys came out of their tern they should have-some-thing better to, look forward to than - a beggarly remuneration -of £2 5s a week.Tins'concluded the case. The Court adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on, Thursday, when the butchers’ and ‘ 'the slaughtermen’s disputes will bo taken.