THE SADDLERS’ DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7268, 26 October 1910, Page 3

THE SADDLERS’ DISPUTE

SITTING OP CONCILIATION COUNCIL. WAGES AND PREFERENCE UNDECIDED. ■ The Council' of Conciliation constituted to hear the dispute between the employee? in the Wellington industrial district and the employers resumed yesterday at the office of the Conciliation Commissioner. Mr P. Hally, who presided. Tho assessors for the employers were Messrs A. W. Blanchard. C. W. Wycherley and William Wiggins. Mr A. W. Grenfell (secretary of the Wellington Employers’ Association) and Mr S. E. Wright (secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Employers’ Association) also appearing with them. The assessors for the employees wore Messrs D. W, Murray, W- Findlay, and T. A. Babe. the Hon. J. Barr acting in conjunction with them. The principax point in dispute was an application for an increase in the present minimum rate from la per hour to Is 3d. The Commissioner stated that he had received a communication from Mr W. Pryor, secretary to the New Zealand Employers' Association, stating that he bad received advice from the secretary of the Wairarapa Employers’ Association that the employers in that district would not agree to be made parties to any agreement entered into until they had been consulted, in the .matter. Mr Blanchard said that this was a surprise to him. The Masterton people had not been consulted on the previous occasion. Mr Hally said tho association, should have sent somebody down to the sitting of the council or asked it to go up. Mr Blanchard: I suppose that means that the council will have to sit there? Mr Hally: Supposing wo agree' here, I do not think it is worth while going to Masterton to study their paricular case. Let them go to the court and ask for some amendment to the agreement if they think it is desirable. Of course, whatever recommendations are made here are not binding on anybody unless the parties actually agree to them. Palmerston North, Wanganui ami Napier arc all represented here. Tho conference then went into committee to consider tho demands of the union. After a sitting lasting the greater part of the day an, agreement was arrived at on all the points of the demands except those of rates - of payment and preference to unionists. These will’ b© referred to the Arbitration Court in tho ordinary course. The hours of labour were fixed at fortyeight per week with a half-holiday on Saturday from 1 p.m. In country districts employers are permitted to arrange for the half-holiday either on Saturday afternoon or whatever day may be chosen for tho statutory half-holiday, all time -worked in excess of forty-eight hours to be classed as overtime, also work done on specified holidays. Time and a quarter will be allowed for overtime for the first four hours, time and a half for the next tw r o hours aucr double time after that, also on specified holidays and Sundays. ‘ Any time lost by a worker must be made up before any overtime is paid. Three classes of labour are provided for. Concerning piecework, a log has to be arranged within three mouths of the coming into operation of the award, the present log to remain in force in the meantime. Wages must he paid weekly. The usual provision is mad.e for under-rafe workers, and a new provision Inserted stipulating that no sub-contracting pc allowed. The' usual provisions are inserted regarding ap,wcntices. In addition to the ordinary apprenticeship term . a further term of twelve' months is allowed for improvers, tho salary for tho first- six months to be 35s per week, and for the next six months 45s per week. The proportion of apprentices remains the same as before. | Districts outside Wellington are permitted to substitute another holiday for the day on which the anniversary of tho province is observed. i . .