A LABOUR DEADLOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14784, 17 March 1910, Page 8

A LABOUR DEADLOCK

. THREAT BI HOTEL EMPLOYES. (Pm Uhited Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, March 16. Today a meeting of tjio Conciliation Council was hold to discuss the demands of tho hotel employees. Mr P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and stated that the main questions of hours, wages, and preference wero not settled. Upon thwe points the employers' representative!? desired opportunity to confer with members of the trade, and Mr Bcvcridgo would thereto be asked for the result of these deliberations.

Mr Beveridge «dd when the matters at issue wero placed before tho members of the executive- of the Licensed Victuallers' Association and other members of tlic trade it was at onco apparent that not one-third of them would agree to the demands as to hours, wages, and picfcicncc. The matters were fully discussed and thoroughly igonc into, but ho regretted to state that the trade could not sec its way clear to accept any of the demands set forth. As the union was pledged by its objects to strive for a six-day week of 48 hours for all male workers and a six-day week of 42 hours for all female workers in the trade, and as such would mean the ruin of every employer engaged in the business, and any agreement arrived at could only lie of a temporary _ character, the employers could not see their way to assist in bringing about sue!) an undesirable .stale of affairs.

Mr T. Long, representing the workers, said tho altitudo taken up by the employers was not in accordance with tho terms laid down in the Conciliation Act. Thoy were making no attempt at conciliation. They merely said : " No, wo decline to discuss tiro matter; and, further, we arc 'going to the court." But if the matter was to tho court, then there would be a-repetition of tho old-time bitterness. Some effort should have been made lo settle this dispute. It was useless for both workers and employers to be. everlastingly bickering, seeing that tTic trade relied upon the workers at the focal option poll. This was an unjustifiable attitude for the employers to take up. There would be such a how) set up throughout tho length and breadth of the country over this that the hotclkc'epcrs would bo very scry lor the way they had-acted.

Sir Bevcridgc: These are threats. In effect, it means that yon will remember us at tho polls. If this in what you want, then tho sooner we know where we are tho better. You arc askiiijg the hotel employees to vote against, fheir own living. How can you ask us to be conciliatory 1 Wo have given you our reasons why wo are asking for the award of the court as it at present stands.' Since that award was made wo have had a very bad time, and tho outlook .is not too bright. But on top of that you asked for 100 lier cent, increase in wages and Bborter hours. These demands you subsequently modified, but you still ask tor a vwy largo increase of pay and shorter hours." If the conditions were fair -when the award was made and tho trado was prosperous, they should he fair to-day now that times aro bad. The chairman remarked that there were a number of points on which the parties had a|irrecd. ;. Mr Boveridijo: But a large number of tho employers would not sign it. Tim employers' assessors came lo flic council giving it to bo understood that they represented five trado. He could only refer tho matter to the court, but he believed .the court would refer it back to him again.