WORKERS' DEMANDS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10671, 21 January 1911, Page 4

WORKERS' DEMANDS.

UNREASONABLE CLAIMS. » CANDID ADVICE BY MB, HALLY. (Pee Peess Association.) Wellington, January 20Some very straight talk was indulged in by Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commis- , sioner, to-day during the hearing of. the t carpenters and joiners', dispute. The assessors were as follows: —For the union -—Messrs G. Blatherwick, J. Barras, and Ivor Hazel; for the employers Messrs J. Nicholson. A. Wilson, and P. C. r Watt. Mr'W. Grenfell appeared for the Wellington Builders and Contrac- ' tors Association, Mr W. G. Smith for 7 the Union Steam Ship Company, Mr C. H. G. Croll for the Wellington Meat Ex--1 port Company, Mr W. G. Lodden for s the Gear Meat Company, and Mr N. F. Marley for the Wellington Timber Merchants' Union of Employers. The existing award has expired, and a new one is asked for. A prominent i feature of tho demands is that the union t asks that a full working week shall coni sist of live days each of eight hours, the - hours of work to be from 8 a.m. to 5 e- p.m., with an hoar for lunch. The i minimum wage asked for all journeys men carpenters, joiners, and carpenters' e joiners is Is Sd per hour, making £3 6s 1 Sd for a week of 40 hours. It is asked that all time worked on Saturday shall be paid for at the rate of double time. When the list of attachments and exemptions had been gone through, Mr Hally 'addressed the representatives of ' [parties as follows:—"I think;the union . is making a mistake. I don't think it fc possible for you to expect what you 3 have asked. You expect the employers I to give you a 40 hours' week, but I can--3 not consider it a reasonable view at the - present time. Had the. union, come t along and said it wanted the same hours - as elsewhere in New Zealand—44 hours - —I candidly confess that I believe the employers would have met you, but when you come and ask for 40 hours I can oidy describe it as unreasonable. Then again, you want the wages increased from Is 4dper hour to Is Bd. , I tiave not spoken to a single employer; still, I am satisfied that your request is out of the question. You cannot expect the employers to agree to these terms. I believe you have done this for the purpose of giving employment to a number of men who are unable to find it. I am of opinion that it would not only spoil any business, but would i cripple it altogether, as well as harass $ trade. Here is another point which will t cause a little trouble. Builders and E contractors have nominated three assesI sors, while another large industry—the timber merchants —is unrepresented. Mr Marley came to my office, and explained the position to me to get his views reported to the Council. I think - it would be reasonable if one of the as- . sessors of the employers stood down to allow the timber merchants to select a man to act for them instead. That would constitute fair representation. I would ask to be allowed to meet the men here without the employers being ' present, so that we can, if possible, re- \ duce the claims that have been made. [ Last year the employers said they could ' not grant an increase as trade was bad. | They. said they would be doing both themselves and the Union a bad turn. ' If the conditions improved during the ' ensuing 12 montlis a small increase might be ; granted. As for the hours ; being reduced to 40, I am quite satisfied that it is altogether wrong at present. The conference referred to was held, and Mr Hally subsequently stated thao the -claims had been reduced. The Union would accept Is 6d instead of Is Bd, and the hours had been suggested as 44. The men, however, were in this difficulty: they stated that they came quite prepared with the consent of their organisation to make terms, but that the hands of the employers were tied, and that unless the terms of the existing award were agreed to the case would go to the Arbitration Court. He had no information from the employers that that was correct. If it was so it was useless to proceed any furtherThere was really no spirit of conciliation about the thing at all. He did not blame the men for raising objections. Mr Grenfell: I think it- would be wrong for theassessors'to be authorised to definitely settle .this matter. Mr Hally-: Is it a- fact that the assessors' hands are tied? , Mi" Grenfell: The decision of.the Association is that unless the Union is prepared to agree to a classification Of workers and to modify, the preference clause it is determined to stand by the existing conditions. This is. an .interim decision.. There, are some matters Tin the existing award.which require some adjustment. '. lb jests with the. Association to make a demand for a' new award to secure the alterations they desire. - The parties subsequently conferred in order to endeavor to arriv«.at an agreement. They will meet again tormorrow.