JEWELLERS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15625, 3 June 1914, Page 4

JEWELLERS' DISPUTE.

, I SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT. {' THE NEW CONDITIONS. BASIS FOR TWO YEARS' AWARD. After a hearing occupying only one day, the dispute 'in the jowellery and watchmaking industries in Auckland, which canio before the Conciliation Council yes-

tcrday—the commissioner, Mr. T. Harle Giles, presiding— been settled. The terms of the agreement arrived at will form the basis of an award. As regards hours of employment, an ordinary week's work will consist of 46£ hours, apportioned as followsAn BJ-houra' day on five days of the. week (from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and four hours on tho half-holiday (Saturday). The employees' claim was for a 44-hours' week. Overtime is to be paid at the rats of time and a-quartor for the first two hours, and thereafter time and a-half. All work done on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Sundays will be paid at the rate of double time, and for all work done on other specified holidays pay will be at the rate of time and a-half. The recognised holidays are to be as follows:— Year's Day, Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, King's Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. As, with the exception of Good Friday and Easter Monday, the foregoing holidays may occasionally fall on a Sunday, it is provided in such cvont that tho following day shall be observed as a holiday.

The workers are to be classified as'apprentices and journeymen. The minimum wage'for a journeyman (in tho goldsmith, silversmith, chainmaking, watchmaking, ring-making, polishing, enamelling, engraving, and allied branches of the in dttstry) is to be at tho rato of £3 per week. Apprentices (whose inden tures are to extend over six years) will receive 10s-a-week for the first year, rising by 5s a week each year to £1 153 per 'week. The minimum wage for journeymen is 10b a week less ton tho workers demanded, but there is little variation as regards the terms sought for apprentices. The proportion of apprent'ees to journeymen may not exceed one to three, or a fraction of three. The award applies only in. the northern industrial district, and does not extend to the Poverty Bay district', nor docs it apply to foremen or' managers in the industry, or shop assistants. The term of the award is for two years. The question of prefer enqe has bean referred to the decision of the- Arbitration Court.

The assessors for the employers were Messrs. J. W. Saunders, R. Ballantine, and A. Lawrence, and for the employees Messrs. W. Coltman, R. Young, and E. H. Haydon. A vote of thanks was accorded the commissioner. Mr. B. Martin (representing the employees), and Mr. C. Grosvenor (who appeared for the employers), indicated that it was largely owing to the tactful and able handling of till! rase by Mr. Harle Giles that the dispute had been settled in such a remarkably short time.