FREEZING INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1937, Page 2

FREEZING INDUSTRY

DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 14. Material agreement on about 50 of the employees’ 90 claims was reached in conference before an application tor a new award by workers engaged in the freezing industry throughout New Zealand was brought before the second Arbitration Court to-day. The hours of work, overtime and wages were among the questions remaining to be settled and the first day’s sitting was occupied with the employees’ case. The Court comprised Mr Justice Hunter and Messrs AV. E. Anderson and A. AV. Croskery. Mr AV. E- Sill (Auckland), was the employees’ advocate, supported by Air G. Baker (Auckland), Mr A. McLeod (AYellingtan), and Mr H. G. Kilpatrick (Christchurch). The employers’ representatives were Air C. G. AA’ilkin (Christchurch) and Mr J. J. Evans (AVellington). Presenting the employees’ case, Air Sill said the dispute involved many technical matters on which the Court would be assisted in the framing of an award. The first point was the hours of work, the principal issue being a 40-hour week of five days. An application was made for this in the last award, but it was refused without any reason being given by the Court, it was hoped to show that the proposition was a practical one in the industry. “Freezing workers have the strongest of claims for this concession in working hours,” said Air Sill. “The industry is arduous and unpleasant; in ict, there is no other industry which is so unattractive. AVe submit than freezing workers require more leisure than other workers so that they may engage in some recreation in order to uuuiiieract the dehumanising and unhealthy conditions of their employment. It would appear there is something wrong within an industrial system which limits the hours to 40 in healthy occupations and withholds such conditions from ono who works in a freezing chamber shut off from sunlight and in a temperature below zero.” Regarding overtime, Air Sill said the present award provided that time and a half should be paid for six hours and double time thereafter. It was now proposed that time and a-half should be paid for two hours and double time thereafter. It was suomitted that excessive overtime should be discouraged.

“Freezing workers’ wages have been adjusted by the Court on 14 occasions within the past 18 years,” continued Mr Sill. “Tlie only question new to lie determined is to what extent the freezing workers should share in the upward trend which wages are now taking. The parties have been unable to settle on any revised standard of ■rates. AVo submit they should be increased in the same ratio as the Court’s pronouncement on standard rates for other workers ” In addition to the present holiday schedule it was requested that Anniversary Day and two other days to be mutually arranged in each district should be granted. “The dressing, dining and drymgrooms at most freezing works are m> credit to the companies,” said Air Sill. “The matter has been the subject of endless disputes over a period of 20 years. It is time proper provision was made in this direction, and we ask the Court to specify minimum provisions.” The use of arsenic in preparations for the treatment of skins was criti- ! cised, and evidence in condemnation of the chain killing system operating in freezing works throughout the Dominion was given by workers engaged in various sections of the industry. Regarding earnings, witnesses produced statements showing average weeekly wages over varying periods ranging from £3 3s 7d to £3 14s lid. This closed the case for the employees and the Court adjourned until to-morrow.