TAXI-DRIVERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16550, 14 May 1914, Page 10

TAXI-DRIVERS.

THE INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE.

AN AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. Tho Conciliation Council sat yesterday to hear the dispute between the Canterbury Motor-car, Horse Drivers' and Livery Stables Employees' Union (Taxi Drivers' Branch) and the following employers:—H. Beaumont, Woolston; A. F. Collins, Edgeware Road, Christchurch; H. Dix, Rangiora; A. Harris, Christchurch j F. Holmes, Riccarton; Johnson and Sons, Rangiora; W. Mitchell, City Hotel, Christchurch; R. Mitchell, Railway Stables, Rangiora; J. M'Clintock, Lichfield Street, Christchurch; Mrs Newman, Colombo Street, Sydenham; Rink Taxis, Ltd. (W. Hayward, manager), Christchurch; J. Riordan, Barbadoes Street, Christchurch; G. F. Scott, Claridge's Stables, Cashel Street Christchurch; Storey's Garage, Hereford Street, Christchurch. Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, presided, and the following assessors attended :—Messrs W. Hayward and G. F. Scott for the employers, and Messrs Hiram Hunter and F. A. M'Teigue for the employees. Tho matters in dispute had been amicably agreed to, and tho Council recommended as follows: —

Sixty hours shall constitute a short week's worx, and seventy hours shall constitute a long week's work. A long week includes a Sunday on. Each 'worker shall be entitled to have every alternate Sunday off, but ho may agreo with his employer to work 0:1 his Sunday off, at the rate of Is per hour for all time worked on such Sunday. The payment for such time shall be made in cash, and not in time, and the worker shall not in any case bo paid less than 3s for any work dono on his Sunday off. The minimum wage shall be £2 12s 6d per week, to be paid weekly and in tho employer's time. No deduction shall be made from the weekly wage save through tho worker's own default. All time worked in any week in excess of the hours hereinbefore prescribed shall be considered overtime, and shall bo paid for at Is per hour. A worker shall be entitled to credit for tho actual working time taken in every concert, theatre or ball job, with a minimum of one hour for every concert or.thcatro job, and two hours for every ball job. Drivers in charge of cars on tour extending over one day may make special arrangements_ with their emplovers as regards overtime. Christmas' Day and Good Friday shall be worked as Sundays. Improvers or learners may be employed for the first three months at a minimum wage of £2 2s per week. _ A driver shall be deemed to be an improver or learner who has not been employed at driving a taxi car previously, or who does not know the Christchurch district. Tho usual preference clause was included. Tho award shall come into force on May 4. 1914, and shall continue in force until May 4, 1916. PARTIES ADDED.

Mr Hunter wished the following parties added to the award:—B. P. Edwards, Rangiora; W. G. Wright, Rangiora; and Drew Bros., Amberley. This was agreed to. WORKING ON SHARES.

In regard to employees working on shares with employers Mr Hunter wished a clause added as in the Wellington award to prohibit working on shares, which, he said, was a most unfair thing. The clause had been in the Wellington award for some years, and had been operative in two awards. Mr Triggs said that he did not think the Court would allow the clause. It had beeu thrown out in all other industries. ~.■ . Mr Hayward 1 offered no objection to the clause being inserted. The clauso was added as follows: — Working on shares between employer and employee shall be prohibited. In order to prevent any evasion or avoidance of the provisions of the award by agreements being entered into between the employers and employees purporting to provide for the sale, leasing or sublotting of cabs or carriages to drivers, it is hereby expressly declared that any employer intending to enter into _ any such arrangement shall give written notice to the inspector of awards of such intention, and shall supply the inspector with such evidence of the bona fides of such arrangement as the inspector may reasonably require. Until such arrangement is duly approved by tho inspector any such driver shall be deemed to be an" employee of such employer and such employer shall be liable in Vcspect of such driver for the observance of the provisions of this award in the same manner and to the same extent as if such driver were in fact his employee.

EXEMPTED. Mr Storey asked for exemption as he did no hiring whatever. This was agreed to.