WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16549, 13 May 1914, Page 10

WORK AND WAGES.

ARBITRATION COURT. , SITTING AT DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, May 12. The sitting of the Arbitration Court opened to-day, before Mr Justice Stringer, nnd Messrs Scott and M’Cullough. Tho recommendations of the Conciliation Council in tlio dispute of tlio stage hands, manufacturing jewellers, and Port Chalmers waterside workers (tho last named with arbitration oil one point) were made into awards. In the Otago shipwrights’ dispute it was pointed out that the wages provided for apprentices wore lower than in other awards dealing with skilled trade's. His Honor said tlio Court probably would make reference to this in a memorandum to tlio award that would, cover the- position. . An award would he made in accordance with the recommendations. When the recommendation in Iho St Bathans sluieors’ dispute eamo before the Court.it was stated that the employers raised objections on one or two minor points. The principal of these was double time on Sundays. The employers asked thaJ;, the Sunday rate should be timo and a half. Mr Dm idson, for the employees, said that double time had been the rule for fourteen years. Tho Court decided to take timo to consider the case. In the glaziers’ dispute the employers asked that the award should not apply to shopmen or storemen on weekly wages, who also acted as glaziers. The Union was prepared to have shopmen and storemen exempted on condition that such men wero not engaged in glazing except in small odd jobs. Tlio Court stated that it would consider tho matter. THEATRICAL EMPLOYEES. A DUNEDIN CASE. [From Otjr Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, May 12. When tho Dunedin theatrical employees’ dispute was called in tho Arbitration Court this morning, Mr 1L Breen (appearing for the Union) had to announce that he had no witnesses present, and to ask for an adjournment. In doing so ho said that this was the first timo in fifteen years that it had been necessary for him to give this as a reason for 'adjournment. The members of the Union had been interfered with by tho employers, with the result that he had not been able to get voluntary witnesses, and it was necessary now for him to summon tho members of the Union to give evidence. “ The managers in the different theatres,” continued Mr Breen, “ have used means that were altogether unfair in dealing with their staffs, and in ono ease at least they threatened dismissal, or actually did dismiss.” Mr Pryor, on behalf ol’ the employers, opposed the application. Mr Breen had made a great deal of tho fact that employers had had tho temerity to speak to their employees about the dispute. As a matter of fact, employees liad gone to the employers, and tho latter had pressed the speakdi- to put the staff in tho box to giro evidence to show that they did not want their existing relations disturbed. Ho had refused to do that, knowing that if lie d'id not do so ho would put Mr Breen in exactly the position .ho was now in, namely, that of having no case to go on. with. Air Breen retorted that Unions were formed to better the conditions of their members, and a statement such as Mr Pryor said they had got—expressing satisfaction with tho present conditions —showed that pressure had been used. If ho was granted an adjournment to summon the witnesses he would be able to prove'his point. Air Justice Stringer (president) granted an adjournment till to-mor-row afternoon. OTAGO BOILERMAKERS’ DISPUTE. [Pin Press Association.] DUNEDIN, May 12. In the Otago .Boilermakers and Iron Ship Builders’ dispute, which had been referred to the Arbitration Court, Air Pryor, for tho employers, made application to the Court to-day that it should be a dominion award ancl that the award should not he mado for any district until the Auckland dispute had been heard. The- whole engineering industry was under review by the Court. They also asked that the Court should not make an award in the Christchurch metal-workers’ dispute until the Dunedin dispute had been heard. They asked, the Court not to give a decision until they heard the evidence in all the disputes throughout the dominion. The Hon J. E. Jenkinson, for the Union, said that to hear tho Auckland case first would delay the matter for several months. The President said the delay would be about three months but that was very little as compared with the advantage of hearing everybody and then making one award. Air Jenkinson addressed the Court at considerable length, contending that it was not the Court’s function to protect the trade, and that “the nauseating whine” of the employers about bad days should not bo allowed to deny the men their due. Air Pryor, who characterised Air Jenkiuson’s speech as the most remarkable over delivered in the Arbitration Court by a Union representative, contended that the position of the trade was such that the employers could not afford to pay more wages. He enlarged on the serious consequences of i increasing wages and called evidenco in support. The case was proceeding when the Court adjourned. DUNEDIN WATERSIDE WORKERS. NEW EXECUTIVE ELECTED. [Per. Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 12. At a special meeting of the Waterside Workers’ Union held a. few days ago, a resolution was carried calling upon tlio executive of the body, elected when the Arbitration Union was formed during the strike, to forthwith resign, and the resignations were at once handed in. To-night tho Union held another meeting for the purpose of electing an executive. The ballot resulted in an executive composed entirely °f ex-strikers being elected. Air iyrell, the new secretary, it is understood, received 128 votes agaiust 21 cast for Air Summers, secretary of the original Arbitration Union. It is statool that a'largo number of tho original Arlntrationists did not attend the meeting.

THE FELLMONGERS. THE NEW AGREEMENT. The Tanners and Fe]lmongers , Union ana the local meat companies have entered into au industrial agreement. Its operation is made retrospective from March -8, 1914. and it will continue untd September 30, 1916. • V! e agreement provides for a day of eight hours from December 1 to May 01, tho time being from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but from June 1 to November 30 the weeks work shall bo forty-eight hours, ending at noon on Saturday. . iho rates of wages have been increased throughout. They are as follows:—Wool sorters, Is lid to Is 6d; pullers, Is 4Jd to Is 6d; pelt classers, i ej to j Pdt turners, Is 4d to Is bd; packers; l s lid to Is 2:1 d; hand neshers, Is Id to Is 24d; machine floshers and scudders, Is Id to ls 2id; skin washers, wringer men, wool scourers cud washers, and pullers’ assistants, lime dollymen, machine dryers’ hands, band scudders, curing dolly men, pelt packers, chemical mixers, ahd any;

other workers not specified or provided tor, from Is o§d to Is 2d. The wages for workers over fifty-five years of ago have been increased from 9£d to lOd, and youths’ wages according to age have been increased by 10 pet 1 cent. Tho general conditions are the same as in tho old award. A “ smoke-oh ” of not more than ten minutes is allowed at intervals of two hours and a half, and all workers must he supplied with tho necessary material for carrying out their work.