SADDLERS’ DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10062, 29 August 1918, Page 3

SADDLERS’ DISPUTE

. A DOMINION CONFERENCE. Press Association. DUNEDIN. August 28. The Conciliation Council was engaged to-day in hearing the saddlers’ dispute. At a previous nearing in July proceedngs were adjourned upon the understanding that representatives! from all centres of the Dominion should attend this sitting and that any recommendations agreed upon should apply to all centres in the Dominion where the industry is prosecuted. Today's sitting was therefore in the. nature of a Dominion Conference, though nominally discussing Otago and Southland demands. Hie matter of wages was under discussion, during the morning, no agreement on this issue having been reached at the luncheon adjournment. After luncheon an offer under the wages emub. was unade in committee, the employers giving a slight advance on tho present rates. The union representatives refused the offer and said obey preferred to accept Is 6d per hour if tho wages of improvers were also raised by 5s and tho demands of female stitchers granted. This proposal was not accepted by the employers. The results of the sitting may thus be stated:—No agreement on hours of work, classes of workers, wages, overtime, apprentices, and female stitchers. Agreement arrived at as to uiiuc.-rata workers, factory and workshops, preference, and holiday. The scope of tho award was limited to Otago And Southland. Tho dispute was therefore 'referred to The Arbitration Court.