THE FURNITURE TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10507, 7 February 1920, Page 4

THE FURNITURE TRADE

DOMINION AGREEMENT CASE BEFORE CONCILIATION COUNCIL. AGREEMENT ON MINOR CLAIMS. A Council of Conciliation commenced sittings Yesterday morning in eonsidcra--1 ion of the dispute between the employers and employees in tho luniiture line "• The agreement in force is a Dominion one, which has been in effect for the past two years. Tho assessors for tho employ eis Messrs W. ,T. Cousins (Auckland) and A. Menzis (Wellington); and for the m on Messrs .Tamos Ferguson. 11. E. and D. R. Kennedy; Mr A\ • A- M. G"-"-fell appeared as agent for the emplo - ers, and Mr A. L. Montoith for the employees. Tho Conciliation Commissioner, *iir W. Newton, presided. CLAIMS OV UNION.

The union in its claims asked for a -10-hour week instead of tho 4-1-hom week at present being worked, tn™ 1 count between tho hours of i-aO n.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of tho week, in Obtablishmcnts in which the hours m work regulated by the Shops and Unices Act it was asked that these hours shorin' not apply as far as furniture packers me concerned. Tho minimum wages s _ oU j rll ’; for general workers is K 5 per woeh; tne present award provides for a flat rate m Is 7,kl with a war bonus of did, nniKiug I total of Is lid. Tho workers therefore ask for a weekly wage.instead of an hourly rate, with an increase m wage of about 30s per week. Lahdurois employed at timber stacking, furnitme packing or other unskilled work demand X-i 10s per week. Further substantial increases were asked in apprentice s wages: under the old award an appientico received 9s per week for the nrst year, and a proportionate rise annually till at the commencement of Ins linn year of service he received 30s per week; the nnion now sought for apprentices las per week for the first six months, 30s per week) for tho second six months, and io on un to Sos for the tenth halt-year-ly period of service. There wore other claims in - regard to conditions, and minor points. A DOMINION AWARD.

When the> proceedings opened to-day the employers, who claimed to represent furniture trade employers from all parts of the Dominion, asked that the dispute should he made a Dominion one. the New Zealand Furniture Trades Association of Employers covers Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland; tho various unions are affiliated, with tho exception of Auckland, which remains indifferent. The sittings lasted all day and will continue next week. After considerable discussion it was ultimately agreed that any agreement or partial agreement reached should apply throughout tho Dominion with the exception of the northern industrial district, and that it should come into operation on the first day of March. The Auckland union could not be covered by any agreement arrived at, since it is at present a party to a dispute in co-operation with the building trades. Since tho employers’ assessors represented thp other employers in tho Wellington, Wanganui. and Palmerston North industrial districts, the sittings in connection with tho same dispute in these centres next week were cancelled. Though an agreement was effected in regard to several of the minor claims—-nnder-rate workers, preference, and apprentices (with tho exception of wages) —no finality was reached ’in connection with wages'and hours, and theso important demands will he the subject of a continuation of the sitting of the council at 10 a.m. on Monday.