WAGES OF DAIRYMEN,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16983, 17 October 1918, Page 8

WAGES OF DAIRYMEN,

OONCHMETON' PROCEEDINGS.

A Conciliation Council sat yesterday to consider the dispute m the dairy trade. The commissioner, Mr. T. Hade Giles,* presided. The assessors for the employers .were Messrs. T. H. Chapman, W. Hamer, j end C. H. 1 E. Johnson, and for the. Dairy-j men's Union, Messrs. & Herdsort, E. J.j B. : Allen, and W. Phillips. Mr. }tM Wright was advocate for the' 'employers, of whom 75 were cited, and Mr, J, T. Purtell was the union's advocate.; . '

The union demanded a minimum wage of £3 10s a week for dandy men, £3 lib' 6d for float, men, with 20 per cent, commis- j sion upon excess sums, and 10s a day for' learners on the milk rounds. The over- 1 time rate 9d an hour. The; em-1 plbyers. advanced the old award as their j counter-proposals. In opening the proceedings the commissioner referred to the abnormallv high! cost of. living, which, he .said, left tile workers no alternative -but..to 'seek- iuV creased wages. It was sensible of the employers to file the old award as counter proposals, but v " was not to.be thought that lho ; intention was to keep the men's wages at the rate ruling three years ago. That was not at-all probable under exist- ■ ing conditions. r " i •"' "'■','' ""'■" The council-'went into committee. 1 Good progress was made, and tho commissioner reported subsequently that'there e'verv indication that an amicable, .settlement would be arrived at. The case, was ait journed until this morning. .■--■'• *-•- ■'■