WOOLLEN MILLS DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15662, 16 July 1914, Page 9

WOOLLEN MILLS DISPUTE.

A DOMINION AWARD. [HT TELFGRAFn.— ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Wednesday. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. J. R. Triggs, to-day presided over the industrial dispute between tho New Zealand j Federated Woollen Mills Employees' Association of. Workers and the New Zealand Woollen Millers' Federation of Employers, i The assessors for the employers were Messrs. W. H. P. Barber (Wellington), J. Lano (Ashburton), E. Cameron (Dunedin), T. R. Leithhead (Kaiapoi), Charles j Gray (Milton) and John Simpson (Onehunga), and the assessors for the employees were Messrs. W. Tate and II C, Revel (Canterbury), R. Brecn and R. H. Watson (Otago), and E. Kennedy and A. Anderson (Wellington). The dispute had as its aim the establishment of a Dominion award for the whole industry, and sought improvements upon the Petone award, which expired in , April. After some discussion, the em- j plovers' representatives decided to have a, conference amongst themselves to decide | upon what offer could be made to the union. This occupied a considerable time, and when the Court resumed the union representatives retired, and then returned with certain counter proposals. A discussion followed for several hours, and the commissioner was able to announce that an agreement had practically been arrived at. The agreement practically adopted the old award, with certain rises in wages. An overtime clause was adopted. Time and a-quartor is to be paid for tho first three hours, time and a-half for tho second three hours, and double time thereafter tili the ordinary starting time the next morning. Night work for youths was limited to those of 18 years and over, and is to carry an increase of 3s per week above day rates. The usual uiulcr-rato workers' clause and the Court's preference clause were inserted. Tho term of the agreement is to be from August 1, 1914, to May 6, 1917.