CONCILIATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12395, 3 July 1902, Page 3

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE SADDLERS' DISPUTE. . A sitting of' the Conciliation Board was held yesterday morning in tho old Supremo Court, the members of the board being Mr A. Bathgate (chairman), Messrs R. Ferguson and P. Hally (representing tlie workers), and Messrs W. Scott and J. M'Gregor (representing the employers).

Mr A. Moir, secretary of the Saddlers', Harness, and Collarmakers' Union of Workers, appeared to support the claims of the union: and the employers present wore Messrs j. B. M'Callum, P. Miller, A. M'Kenzie, and B. Hatfield. Out of the 90 members of the association cited 41 were represented.. _ Mr M'Callum said in ! ordcr''to save the time of the board he might state that they were quite ■ prepared to accept the proposed Auckland agreement. The ' aw.-.rd they were now working under was based upon the original'award made in Auckland. He did not know that the union had any objection to accepting the proposed Auckland agreement, and the employers lie had come in contact with had arrived at the conclusion to accept it.

Mr Moir said lie would ask the board to file a recommendation similar to the proposed Auckland agreement, with the exception of the clause relating to apprentices,, which he considered unfair, Ilis suggestion was that one hoy he emnlovcd to three journeymen or one to a fraction of the same,, the master to count, and this to apply to all branches of the trade.

Mr M'Callum said they had discussed this .matter with the union, and recogniscd that it would be bad to have a superabundance of boys in the trade. The employers thought that one hoy to two men, or fraction of two, wouid be a fair regulation of the number of apprentices, but the union wanted one- boy to three men.

After some further discussion it was agreed by both parties to accept- the following clause:-"That in all branches of the trade two boys be allowed to every three .journeymen, or one to a fraction of three, 111 retail shops, the master to count as a journeyman."

Mr M Galium said ho thought the master saddlers should have a list filed of incompetent men working below tho minimum wage. This should be noted by the union, and sent to the Masters' Association. / Mr Moir agreed with Mr M'Callum's idea, and confiiWred it would bo a good clause to insert in the agreement. It might be file means of a man receiving a higher wage. He would agree to have such a clause inserted.

It was then mutually agreed that the following should be . introduced into clause 4 of the proposed Auckland agreement:— And if any such lie employed; that notification of the. wage? paid, and the name of the employer be sent to the president or secretary, of the .-Master Saddlers' Society." The board then concluded its sitting.