BIOGRAPH OPERATORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 11

BIOGRAPH OPERATORS.

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE.

HOURS OF WORK AFD WAGES.

I A fttix agreement was arrived s.t m the j Auckland biograph operators' dispute yesterday, whe i the hearing was con- ! eluded before he Conciliation Council. ' The eoncHTatio 1 commissioner, Mr. T. ] Harlo Giles, presided/ and the assessors j were Messrs, H. J. Hayward, F. Duncan, I and J. L. Ben well for the employers, and i Messrs, C. T. Cooper, A. R. Martin, and H. V. Cullimore for the operators, Mr. I Arthur Rosser, secretary of the Biograph 1 Operators' Union, conducted the case for I the men.

The award will be the first of its kind in the Dominion, and may form the basis of awards in other centres where similar disputes are being filed. The text of the agreement is substantially as follows :—■ Hours oi Labour. The hours of labour for operators in continuous picture theatres shall consist of not more than seven a day and 42 a week, a continuance picture theatre being defined as one in which a programme is shown more than once daily. In casciS where a theatre is open only at ni?ht, the hours of labour shall be such as may be fixed between the operator and the proprietor, according to the exigencies of the business, provided that the operator's work shall consist of the projection of films, preparation of programmes, and care of all projection apI paratus in his charge i including motive I power. In picture theatres outside a radius of one mile from the Town Hall the I duties of an operator shall be such as may be aereed upon between the operator and the employer concerned. In case of failure to ame, the matter shall be referred to the conciliation commissioner for the district, whose decision shall be final. Scale of Wages. The minimum wage for ope;ators at amtinuous picture theatres is fixed at £<l 53 per week. With regard to night theatres, within a radius of one iwile from the Town Hall, an operator is to receive £4 pox ! iveok for six performances and one matinee, and £3 is fixed as the weekly wage for a similar number of performances I and a matinee as far as country and subi tubal theatres are concerned. I Vaudeville and other entertainments are I exempted from the provisions of this clause, I provided that no picture shows at such en- | tertainments extend over 30 minutes. If I thev do extend over that period the award | rates will be payable. I Casual workers are provided for at the I rate of £1 Is ightly for single performI ancos ,within the on;) mile radius, and 115s outside that radius, all expenses to be borne by the employer. Regarding touring ! entertainments, an operator is to receive j£4 10s weekly and an operator and en i girieer £5, all travelling expenses to be j paid bv the employer. Sunday performances will be paid for at the rate of £1 Is each.

All work in addition to that already mentioned is to be regarded as overtime, and will be paid for at the rate of 4s an hour. Question of Holidays. Th 6 award provides that not more than 14 davs' holiday shall be allowed, at a time convenient to the employer, and provided that the employer is satisfied with Cta substitute. No pay whatever will be allowed when on holiday leave. When operators are employed by the week, the employment may m terminated by one week's notice on uithcr side. Tha Preference Clause. R""a.rding the preference question, tie award provides that employers may enpage auv person, whether a member of a union or not, but if a non-unionist is employed he mnst become a member of the nnion within throe days of the time when he is requested to do so by the secretary of the union, or he will render himself liable for a breach of tin sward. It is provided that the mice of the nnion shall permit any operator of good character to become a. member without a billot or other election noon navment of an entrance fee not exceeding ss. and subseouent contributions not exceeding 6d weekly. The preference clause does not annlv to any operators who come to Auckland as members of a travelling company. The award also provides that an employer shall not under any circumstances bo liable for a breach of this clause. Term Not Decided. In order to bring the dispute before the Arbitration Conrt it is necessary to have one clause nndec-ded. and the fixing of the term of the award has therefor? been loft to the Court, though it is tacitly understood that it shall operate for two years. At the close of the- nroeeediTisrs, Mr. P. Duncan, for the employers, moved a hearty vote of thsnks to the commissioner for the able assistance ha had rpndVred in bringing the somewhat complicated dispute to a cn+'sfrirtorT issue. Mr. C. T. Cooper, on h*>>alf of the rmion. sf>oor>d«>d the motion, wfcirh was supTVvt'd by Messrs. J. L. Rpnwe'J and A. rWor, and was nltimrM« earned bv acclamation, Mr. Harle GLlea briefly retnmintr thanks.