THE BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4084, 23 June 1900, Page 7

THE BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

THE MATCH-MAKERS*. CASK. EARNINGS OK GIRLS. A DEMAND FOR IMPROVED CONDITIONS . The Board of Conciliation resumed the hearing of the dispute between the Wellington Match Factory Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers and Messrs R. Bell.arid Co., Limited, Newtown, match manufaeturers, yesterday. Mr Robert McKenzie (president) represented the union, and Mr Walter MeLay (factory manager) appeared for Messrs Bell and Co. Mr McKenzie, in his opening remarks, said the girls had gone out on strike, and proceeded to say that the girls were paid by the frame at Hd, but if the number of frames allotted was not completed, the farthing was docked by way of penalty. The frames were given according to a girl’s efficiency. The best hand in the factory could only do twenty gross a. day, which made her week’s wages TSs Gd. A girl, to make her wages, had to handle something like 144,000 matches in a day. The union was asking an increase of wages, according to efficiency, at from IGs Gd to 19s Gd. An average' hand could only tin 4.) gross of No. I’s a day, c(|iiul to 18s 4cl a week. The increased wages asked for would average 24s Gd a week. A Id more per gross was asked in No. II and 12’s, of which an average girl could make eight gross a day, equal to £1 Os 2d per week. The increase asked' would bring her wages up to £1 2s. The present rate in the box department was 2jd per rack; 3d was asked. An average turn out was seventeen racks a day, equal to 17s 8d a. week. The increased rate asked would yield 23s 3d a. week. Box-fitting consisted in putting the lids on the boxes. The average hand could do sixty gross a day. and was paid by the basket of forty gross. The average wage yielded 16s Gd, for nine baskets a. week. The union asked an increase of Gd on the basket, yielding £1 Os 4d. At the start of the factory in 1894, 2s Gd per basket was considered a fair wage. There was a good deal of dirty work invpvled . in the hoxllf ting department necessitating scrubbing and cleaning up,( which was included in the pay. The cleaning up had to bo repeated twice a day. The union also asked tor an equal distribution of the work. Work had been stopped for want of material, and-suffered accordingly. The paste aiul paper had ran short occasionally. Tlio conditions under which the gilds worked wore not conducive to health. He referred to the form of necrosis known as “ phossy jaw.” The fumes of phosphorus were being constantly inhaled through the girls’ perspiring hands coming into contact with phosphorus. Considering the risk of inhaling phosphorus fumes, it was only right that the girls should work under fair conditions. Match-making hero was practically indirectly subsidised by the Government, with a heavy protective duty in its favour, and it was never intended that the profits should go Homo to swell the receipts of the English firm. . Mr MeLay, in opening the case for his firm, said there were only one or two points on which he wished. To put Mr McKenzie right. With regard to the wages he would put in a wages’ sheet. ■Witli reference'to the management, it was the duty of the gilds to complain, to him, as the .manager, i£ anything wont wrong before carrying their grievances to the union. The most serious complaint brought forward by Mr McKenzie was the cbai'ge of unbenlthiness. Mr MeLay referred to the' result of an inquiry at Home on the subject in which the decision, after the taking of evidence, was left to an umpire. The decision, was to the effect that the manufacture of wood matches (lucifors) was dangerous as then carried on, and a list of safeguards was suggested. At the same time, it was expressly stated that the manufacture, of. wax vestas was exempted* from the proposed Restrictions. He objected to the use _of the word subsidy in connection with his firm. The protective duty was imposed before his firm thought of starting a factory bore. The Is 2d duty per gross boxes seemed to leave a liberal margin, but an investigation 'into the prices paid by Ins firm for material reduced i ■ very much. The rise in prices demanded in certain classes of work amounted to 200 per cent, on London prices. If the union insisted in demanding such increases, the firm would have to close down, and the work would the;, ho taken up by foreigners. Jessie Mclrinis, examined by Mr .McKenzie, said she bad been employed five years at the factory, was now engaged in the box department, could do twelve to fourteen gross plaids a day, and averaged four gross' of 4’s per day. She had not done more than four and abalf gross a day of -..e latter. She could do eight gross in H’s and 12’s. She had grounds of complaint against tlio foreman in his distribution of work! The London girls were getting the best of the work. To Mr MeLay; sue had averaged IGs a week for the last two weeks. She bad not bad her fair share of work during the last two weeks. The firm’s hooks showed this witness’s wages ran during the last six weeks as follows:—£1 o s “6d, 17s, 11s Gd, IGs 2d, IGs Id, 19s lid. On some weeks she had not worked the full week. The London girls bad been on a fortnight. She earned more before the London girls came. To Mr Fisher: She started at 6s a week five years ago. To Mr Collins: The London girls worked quicker, but they did not fill tneir boxes so full, and if the work bad been done by local girls it would have been sent back to be looked over. At various limes the girls bad been kept waiting for matches. The majority of Ihe girls depended on what they made at the factory for their living. George Walter Lacey, in charge of the box-filling department, also gave evidence. In reply to Mr Collins, witness said there was no ease of “starving” a. girl out of the factory. He bad laughed at the girls for joining the union.

To Mr McLay : Ten minutes for lunch had been stooped by the manager’s orders, so much time was wasted. The work was eoually divided, as far as possible. Girls often stayed away from work when plaids were to be done.

Some girls mentioned bad been sent home for playing and laughing. The girls were shut out for being late, though they were paid by piece work. The abuse of privileges in respect of which he complained had sprung up since the union was formed. The evidence of Nellie Dobson, who had been five years in Hie factory was next taken. She had just been discharged for talking. She had been discharged before for ■•cheeking’’ the forewoman. - i.e forewoman pulled her hair, and she slapped the forewoman's face. She made IGs to 18s a week. She had set fire to a frame. sonrtimos she got two tickets for one frame jrom Iho hoys who served the frames, and so got paid for work she had not done. Mary Goslin said she had worked about six years at mo factory and had been discharged by the foreman for being late under circumstances she considered unjust. She had earned 14s or los a, week. To Mr Collins; The system of locking the gate at five minutes past 8 a.in. had been introduced six months ago, Alice Margaret Mack had been employed in the olci Manners street factory. She could do twelve to fourteen gross a. day when she had imported boxes. The Board adjourned to 10 o’clock this morning at ...c factory, the working of which tiicy propose to inspect. The hearing of the dispute will he resumed on Monday morning at 10.30.