CLERKS IN THE SOUTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10686, 4 September 1920, Page 9

CLERKS IN THE SOUTH

CLAIMS FOR AN AWARD. EMPLOYERS OBJECT TO.IBE ? . MOVEMENT. PEIt'VTVF.SS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, September 3. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr W. H. Hagger, sat to-day for tho purpose of endeavouring to bring the employers and employees to an understanding, in the matter of the cli&pute, regardiujg the wages and conditions 'of work of the clerks employed ill warehouses.' Tliis was to have been the initial conference with a viow to tho formation and recognition of the Dunedin Clerks', Cashiers', and Office Assistants' Union, but the employers declined to approach (he assessors and the Commissioner decided that tho proceedings could- not bo carried any further at tho present stage. Mr A. S. Cookson', on behalf of the employers, contended that so far- as this section of clerks; was concerned, thero was no . dispute. The clerks already had an organisation which, though not yet registered, absorbed 100 per cent .of the employees. In tho circumstances, the employers considered that they were not called upon to accept citation as negotiations were at present in progress for a settlement of conditions and wagee. •' Mr F. L. Evans, one of the assessors for the union, contended that the matter should bo got to the Arbitration Court, irrespective of whether or not a guild existed. The claims put forward bv tlhej unibn, he sadd, had prompted the employers to practically coerce the. clerks into joining the op position organisation. Tho guild, ho added, gave no protection to tho workers concerned, and as any agreement come to could not be binding, he asked the Commissioner to go on with the mater at the sitting,, contending thnt hn bad pnwer to do so xmder section 37 of the Act. Mr Pookenn stronpflv te the statement that the- clerk? had been coined into formlne n, fi'lTd. Mr ("Viokson and Mr Evans agreed that the porti"«< would prefer <:he m<*+ter to fp direct to the eourt. Tim CorpmiesToner said he would re- j ! rmrr necordincrlv. It was for the *>m-| plovers to satjsfv the court that the guild hr<l been formed with > i,e en-1 !«mii- and for the benefit '<r 'ho. employers.