CLOTHING TRADES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 14

CLOTHING TRADES

DOMINION DISPUTES CASES BEFORE COURT HOLIDAYS AND PAYMENT OVERSEAS COMPETITION Three disputes in different clothing industries were brought before tho Arbitration Court yesterday. The Court agreed to hear together the clothing trades employees' case and the shirt, silk and white workers' case. Both disputes had been referred to the Court after a partial settlement had been reached in Conciliation Council. Jlr. J. .Roberts, of Christchurch, with Mr. E. B. Newton and Miss A. Cossev, represented tho unions, and Air. T. O. Bishop appeared for the employers. Mr. Roberts said they were attempting for the first time to define exactly what classes of work were covered by "clothing trades." They said that ■when a fabric was woven or knitted find then made into a garment, that work caino under tho clothing trades award. The unions asked that tho hours be eight daily, from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tho suggestion that shifts should be worked was really due to the employers' desire to avoid payment of overtime. There was no call for shift work and the unions objected to it. Hardest Worked Women In support of the unions' demand of £2 15s weekly for factory tailoresses Mr. Roberts said they were the hardestworked female workers in any industry in the country. They had to machine a given number of garments in return for the wage fixed. Employers were getting the benefit of tho piecework system without paying for it. Mr.. Bishop said a new bonus clause had been agreed to to meet the situation.' Mr. Roberts said that pressors had greatly increased their output by the use ,of improved machinery, but their wages of £4 7s 6d were still where they were 10 years ago. Mr. Newton stated the case for under pressers and seam pressers being included as pressers under the award nnd paid £5 10s a week. Mr. Roberts said they were asking' for two annual holidays on the day following New Year's Day and Anniversary Day, in addition to the eight provided. Double pay was asked for Saturday work. Discussing the claims for shirt, silk and white workers, Mr. Roberts said the union claimed that if women were employed at cutting they must be paid the same rates as males. The unions asked that the terms of both awards be one year. Dyers and Dry Cleaners Mr. Bishop said the dyeing and drycleaning companies sought exemption because these establishments were now run largely in connection with laundries. Mr. A. L. Monteith, employees' representative on the Court, said the dyers and dry cleaners could not bo covered by the laundry award. Mr. Bishop said it had not been tho custom to fix the period of eight hours in previous awards, and some latitude had been allowed. They asked that that be continued. The President, Mr. Justice Page: 1 | take it that vou have the working of shifts in mind? Mr, Bishop said that had not beon , considered in connection with these two , awards. ■. Evidence for the employers was given by B. G. Midgley, departmental manager of the Kaiapoi Woollen and Clothing Manufacturing Company, Christchurch. He said the factory prices had been increased by 23 per cent on wages as a result of recent industrial legislation. The increase would be 12$ per cent to 15 per cent on the finished article. As an illustration of the keen overseas competition that had to be met he said that boys' overcoats were quoted at 4s 4d in England and could ' be landed here at 7s Bd. Their lowest matking price here was 10s 4d and the c<spt of material would bring the price of the coat to between 16s and 18s. Mr. Monteith said the difference was | certainly not explained by wages. English Coats Sought Tho witness said English coats were 1 being much more sought since the new legislation here had begun to take effect. A. J. T. Duncan, factory manager of the Kaiapoi Woollen and Clothing Manufacturing Company, Christchurch, and G. S. Amos, governing director of G. S. Amos and Company, Limited, Wellington, also gave evidence. Tho latter explained the bonus system adopted in his factory, and said that 20 per cent of the girls earned an | average of about 6s weekly extra under | it by exceeding the average production. 3 Mr. Bishop said that, although the | matters referred to the Court in these 1 cases were few in number, they were of i considerable importance. The employers were seeking to preserve customs that t bad prevailed in past awards, and the j unions were asking for departures. Mr. | Bishop opposed the wages and holiday s demands of the unions. Where all over- t time had to be paid for an annual holi- t day should not be granted, ho said. Tho v question of competition with overseas t markets was a very important one. The celling prices of clothing in Now Zea- c land were fixed by the English prices. c and not by the costs of manufacturing j here. Mr. Roberts said ho had beon j astounded to learn that day that some v clothing manufacturers wero contem- t plating shift work for some sections of their'employees. Had the union thought ojf such a thing it would certainly have asked for the hours to be fixed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Court reserved its decision.

LOCAL BODY WORKERS

NEW AWARD SOUGHT CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS Agreement on various machinery clauses was reached in Conciliation Council yesterday in a dispute for a new award between the Auckland and Suburban Local "Bodies' Labourers' Union and the local bodies concerned, but after a long Argument on various points it was agreed to adjourn for further discussion on hours and wages, The employers' representatives wore Messrs. H. H. Watkins, D. Holderness, A. ( 0. Glass, A. A. Co.'itos and S. P. Green, with Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers' Association as agent. Messrs. B. Clews, F. MacLeod, B. McGcehnn, and A. F. Newbold appeared for the workers.