CONCILIATION BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8782, 25 January 1909, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

BRICKLAYERS' DISPUTE.

The Conciliation Board sat in Palmerston North to-day in connection with the bricklayers' dispute. The members of the Board were:— Messrs A. H. Cooper (chairman), A. Collins (workers' representative), F. Bedford, and H. Inniss (employers' representatives). Mr W. B. Bodell, secretary of the Wellington Industrial Union of Workers, appeared on behalf of the bricklayers and Mr W. McKenzie on behalf of the employers. Mr Bodell stated that the bricklayers of Palmerston held that the wages had, not increased during recent years although the cost of living had increased considerably. He had visited most of the employers in Palmerston. Five had given their signatures as agreeing to the claims; three would not sign but were quite in favour of the claims being granted. Twentyfour employers had been cited to appear, but of these three were out of business and four or five were out of town, and had not been able to see them. All, however, were practically in favour of the claims being granted. In Palmerston the bricklayers worked 47 hours per week at Is 6d per hour,, and got paid for 48 hours. He then gave out the following names to be added to the list of employers in the Wellington Industrial DistrictJ. Hickey, H. White (Palmerston N.), J. Maunder (Ashhurst), T: Rimmer, A. Spiers (Foxton), Stevenson, Spencer (Shannon), Duncan (Levin), and W. Nees (Manakau).

The Board then adjourned to Wellington on Friday, 29th inst.

SOME OF THE CLAIMS. The following are some of the claims made by the bricklayersA full week's work shall consist of 44 hours— five days of eight hours each, and from 8 a.m. till 12 noon oil Saturdays. All journeymen bricklayers shall be paid not less than Is 9d per hour. Apprentices are to be paid for the first year 10s per week, for the second year 20s, for the third 30s, and for the fourth 40s, and for the fifth 50s. Fares both ways for suburban work to be paid by the employer, suburban work to mean work carried on at a distance exceeding one mile and a half but not exceeding ten miles from the general post offices at Wellington, Masterton, Napier, Hastings, and Palmerston North. Country work shall mean the work carried on beyond a radius of ten miles from the above mentioned post offices, including Lower Hutt, and in every such case the employer shall pay fare and time travelling once each way, and, at the option of the employee, Is per day and sleeping accommodation, or Is 6d per day without sleeping accommodation, such payment to be in addition to the minimum wage prescribed. Every employer shall provide proper sanitary conveniences and shed and hot water for midday meals for his workmen.