CONCILIATION BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11587, 27 February 1901, Page 6

CONCILIATION BOARD.

PAINTERS' DISPUTE.

A sitting of the Conciliation Board was held yesterday at the Supreme Court Buildings. There were present: The chairman (the Rev. A. H. Collins), and Messrs. E. W. Alison, John Fawcus and W. H. Lucas. The latter apologised for the absence of Mr. B agnail.

The Chairman said they had adjourned the dispute in the painters' trade in order to allow time to join others in the citation. The names of those cited were called, but the only responses were from Messrs. 0. Mays (Grammar School Board), Alex. Alison (Devonport Ferry Company), J. Connop and J. L. Holland (Auckland Guild of Master Painters). The Chairman said that in the absence of the others the case must proceed. In answer to the chairman as to whether any of those cited wished to object, Mr. Mays, on behalf of the Grammar School Board, said that his Board did not employ a painter, but employed two handy men occasionally to do painting work, and the Board found it impossible to find permanent employment for a first-class painter. He submitted that the citation, as far as his Board was concerned, should be annulled. Mr. Holland said he believed the painter employed by the Grammar School Board was engaged 011 odd jobs. Mr. Tyson asked if the Board had tried to engage a Mr. Cooper as painter and papcrhanger. Mr. Mays said Mr. Cooper had applied to him for a permanent employment, but was told that it was not to be had. The Board did not seek the man at all. Mr. Tyson said in that ease if the master painters were agreeable, he was willing that Mr. Mays should be allowed to withdraw from the case. In answer to the chairman, Mr. Holland said if the men were not employed as painters pure and simple he would offer no objection to the withdrawal of the Grammar School Board.

Mr. Connop at this stage submitted that there was no benefit in the society, as painters worked outside at 6s per dav and when employed by ' master painters demanded the full wage. Mr. Mays said that one of the men employed by him was a carpenter by trade. The Chairman asked if it met with the views of the parties if a clause were embodied in the award limiting the Grammar School Board to the employment of two handy men for painting work, and binding them to pay the current rate for any further skilled labour, and to comply with the award. This was agreed to and Mr. Mays withdrew.

Mr. A. Alison, oil behalf of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, objected to his company being joined in the citation on the grounds that the hands who were employed to paint the ferry steamers were hands in the company's employ, and the work of painting the steamers was rough work and did not require skilled labour: also, the men did other worK, such as cleaning steamers' bottoms and boilers: and, further, the company did not compete in any way with the Master Painters' Union. Mr. Holland said if the Ferry Company were prepared to accept a similar arrangement as that made with the Grammar School Board, he would offer no objection. Mr. Alison said when the company employed skilled labour they always paid the current rate. He was agreeable to'' the suggestion. Mr. Connop said many skilled hands, would not accept employment which required them to wash ships' bottoms. Mr. Tyson said it was not intended to interfere with men employed on such work. Mr. Alison was then allowed to withdraw, on the understanding that a clause would be inserted in the award as in the case of the Grammar School Board.

Mr. Tyson, in opening the case, briefly explained that although the master painters had agreed to the terms in the statement, there were still some further conditions, entered that it was found they were put in such a position that they did not agree at all. Ho was not asking for a new statement, but only for a new clause under clause 28 of the Industrial Act. They also asked that in cases of incompetent men only those over 50 years of age should be empowered to work for lid per hour. There was a request for a preferential claim for unionists, as there was nothing in the rules of the Painters' Union that prevented any competent workman from joining such union. Only two reasonable amendments were asked for and concessions had been given to the masters. He pointed out that the cost of living was likely to go up owing to the new municipal laws, which gave extended powers to the Council that would tend to raise rents in the future. He wished it to be clearly understood that the painters were not asking for a rise of wages. Mr. Holland said he mentioned at the last meeting of the Board, in the matter that the delegates from the Master Pointers' Guild and the Painters' Union had met and dismissed the whole statement in a most agreeable and conciliatory spirit, and although it was rather against the views of the guild, tlioy decided not to take exception to it, because if the matter went to arbitration it would most likely be awarded, as they had seen in other cases, and therefore, to shorten matters, agreed to the ■ statement; but on again meeting, found a clause tacked on requiring employers to notify the union when the terms of their apprentices began and ended. This was looked upon as a spirit of dictation, and as objectionable. There must bo some little trust between the guild and the union, and the latter had got it into their heads the employers wanted to best them. If the clause was carried here, members of the guild would never think of taking apprentices, and the result would be, if no young people were brought up to the trade, it would fall into the hands of the general public, and the class of work would naturally be inferior. The guild were firmly resolved on this point, not to employ apprentices if the clause were adopted. He had last year paid £300 less in wages, notwithstanding there was more work going on, because it was in the hands of outsiders, and the builder picked up any handy man, and thus not only legitimate painters lost employment, but the work was carried out in an inferior manner. The guild had thoroughly resolved not to accept the clause, which they thought rather humiliating, and felt safe in leaving the matter in the hands of the Board, and considered that they had shown a conciliatory spirit in accepting the award as placed before it. Mr. Tyson said that the question of apprentices was not the question at all, but the question was where a youth had served a term of four years at. the trade, and wished to go to some other trade, fir even with a view of further improving himself, go to his employer and agree with him to .work another yea- at less than the standard rate. This applied also in cases where the employer died or went out of business. Mi. Alison suggested that as a conciliatory spirit had been shown by the Masters' Guild, the uniofi might give way in respect of the clause in dispute. Mr. Holland said what the guild objected to was the objectionable nature of the request. They did not know where the matter was going to end, and they might next be asked fo» a balance-sheet showing their profits. All they wanted was some sense of honour and trust between the guild and the union.

Mr. Tyson said it seemed to him that Mr. Holland objected to the word " master" being inserted, and asked if it would bo objected to if it were stipulated that the ap prentice sin 11 notify the secretary of the union as to their term of apprenticeship. Mr. Holland said he had no objection, but of course the masters could not force the apprentices to carry out the clause, and it was a matter between the union and the apprentice.

Mr. Alison said this practically ended the dispute, and the clause would be inserted with the insertion of the word apprentice" instead of " master."

Mr. Beer, secretary of the Painters' Union, said the Mastere' Guild had always treated the union very fairly. Mr. Connop said the greatest difficulty oxistcd with men taking work on contract one month and the next posing as master painters. Mr. Tyion said it would be better if the award made a distinct definition between master snd employee. Mr. Holland said the master painters did not desire the preference clause in the agreement, but gave way in a conciliatory spirit. It would be an endless source of troubles in small jobs. Mr. Collins said the Board would go into committee tc prepare its Sliding, and hoped to be able to present it next morning at ten o'clock.