MASTER AND MAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14586, 24 January 1911, Page 6

MASTER AND MAN.

COUNTRY BUTCHERS' DISPUTE

UNION ASKS FOR AWARD.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

Hamilton, Monday. Mn. T. Harle Giles {Conciliation Commissioner) arrived in Hamilton on Saturday to hear a, dispute between the 'Auckland Butchers' Industrial Union and T. Adams and Sons and others. The dispute embraced the whole of the Northern industrial district, and between 600 and 700 master butchers have been cited. The issues at stake are an increase of wages, shortening of hours and improved conditions. The Auckland town butchers have already obtained an award, and at the last sitting of the Arbitration Court held in Auckland in October an application was made to add the country butchers as parties to the award. Tho Court, however, decided that a fresh dispute should be filed for the country butchers, and tho outcome of that decision is the dispute now before the Conciliation Council in Hamilton. Mr. W. E. Sill, secretary for the Butchers' Union, appears for the employees and Mr. C. Grosvenor, secretary of tho Employers' Federation, for the master butchers.

Tho assessors were:—On behalf of tho employers : Messrs. J. Say (Waihi), C. O. Munro (Clevedon), and W. H. Parker (Whangarei) ; and for tho employees: Messrs. Sill (Auckland), Seymour (Auckland), Chepmell (Auckland), and Robertson CSVaihi). Mi-. Giles said that at present there was no award, existing in the Dominion for country butchers except in Christchurch, and he thought they might refer to that award and work from that basis.

Mr. Grosvenor, on behalf of the employers, said that under the new Act it was only possible to work assistants 52 hours without overtime. Under these circumstances it was considered that the case now before the Council should be referred direct to the Court of' Arbitration to deckle whether it would be wise or proper that an. award should be made at all. In regard to the butchering business a reduct of hours to 52 would be a very serious matter for tho employers, as in order to meet the exigencies of their business they would be compelled to employ extra hands. The demands in the present case he characterised as more stringent than the Christchurch award, which provided for 56 hours, and for this reason employers preferred to go to the Arbitration Court. • .

In reply to a question by the Chairman, Mr. Grosvenor said that as a representative of the employers he was not empowered to settle the matter.

Mr. Sill, on behalf of the employees, said that, he and his colleagues -were authorised to come to a definite agreement. Ho added that an attempt had been made to include country butchers in the Auckland award, but objection had been taken, with the result that the employers had lost four hours. The employers had been endeavouring to gain time and cause delay, and already a great.deal of time had been wasted. With reorganisation the work accomplished at .the present time could easily be done under proper conditions in 52 hours. The Commissioner said the employers were not acting in a. conciliatory spirit. Even the Arbitration Court was unable to alter the hours fixed by the Act, and if the employers refused to discuss the matter and went to the Arbitration Court they would probably bo referred back to the Conciliation Council. He thought they should consider the matter and try to arrive at some agreement. Then if they failed to do so, am" knotty point could be referred to the Arbitration Court. As Commissioner he objected to the attitude assumed by the employers. Mr. Grosvenor (to Mr. Sill): Are you prepared to accept 455? Mr. Sill: No, lam not.

Mr. Grosvenor: Then I decline to go any further. At this stage Mr. Munro, on behalf of the employers, asked for a short adjournment to allow him and his colleagues to confer. At the adjournment no decision had been arrived at.