CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15937, 3 December 1913, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

FLODRMILLERS' DISPUTE.

HEARING ADJOURNED,

The Conciliation Council eat yesterday morning under the presidency of Mr J. k. Triggs-(commissioner; to hear a'dispute between the United Aimers, Engine-drivers, and Mill ifonpioyet*' industrial Union of Workers and the" employers of Utago and Southland. Tne names of lb limis were cited by the union The assessors for the employers were Messrs E. H. Lough, A. bieven, aid R. K. Ireland; and those for the union Messrs T. M'Murtrie, a\ Rush, and A. K. Jackson, with Mr Jesse Haymes as agant. Tiie principal point at issue was the question of wages, and it was debated at some length.

In their demands the men stipulated for an eight-hour day, to bo worked in shifts of eight hours each. Overtime was asked for at the rate of.timo and a-quarter for the first two hours,' time and a-half for the second two hours, and thereafter double time. The minimum rates of wages asked for wero as follow:—Rollerman or shift miller, Is 6d per hour; oatmeal and barley miller, Is 6d per hour; purifiers and smuttermen, Is 5d hour; head storeman, Is 6d per hour; assistant emuttcrman or tipman, lciinman, assistant storeman/and packerman Is 3d per hour. Preference and underrate workers' clauses wero also included.

'llio emp.oycrs asked that the present award should be maintained in all its provisions, tne reason being that the Auckland award 'had not run out. Under this award the rate of wages was from 3d to 4d an hour less Man in the demands preferred by the men.

Before hearing the ca6e stated by the assessors, the Commissioner said he thought it would facilitate matters if he pointed out what the court had decided in Christchurch. A sitting of the Conciliation Council had been held in Christchurch a few months ago, and the question of wages had been the only one that was referred to the court. On this point tho court gave no decision, but adjourned the matter until a dominion award could be formulated; which could be done when tho Auckland award expired, as it would in December, 1914. The judgo advised the men to endeavour to form a federation of tho Auckland, Christchurch,and Dunedin Unions, and to secure the formation of a union in Wellington. Continuing, Mr Triggs pointed. out that the employers could not expect to give higher wages in one centre than in another, otherwise they would do no business.

On behalf of the union, Mr Haymes said the men certainly could not agree to the award at present in operation m this district or to continue under it for another 12 months. It had already 'been in existence for 10i years.

The Commissioner: How does it compare •with tho Chriotchurch. award—the last award made by the court?

Mr Haymes: Not very favourably. Under the present Canterbury award a higher rate of wages is given than exists in Dunedin. Mr Haymes went on to point out that 60 far as industrial affairs were concerned things had altered considerably during the past 10i years, and he thought the employers would also concede that. He thought th<r-union was being asked too much when the employers requested it to accept the present award uctil a federation award was made. The former Canterbury award came into force in July, 1911, and at that time tho employers there were quite willing'to increase the wages of tho men. Ho thought the Dunedin millers had been very lenient to remain under an award for 10 years before asking for a renewal or variation even to the extent of a« increase in wages. He would suggest that, asjthe court was desirous of forming a dominion award, the union's representatives should 60t aside their own proposals and accept the present Canterbury award as a basis for a settlement. In that case any recommendations that were made could remain in force until a dominion award Was formulated.

The . Commissioner: A very fair proposition.

Mr Haymes stated, in conclusion, that it was scarcely lair to ask the men to go on under the present award until the Auckland award expire. Tho new award could remain in forco until tho expiry of the Auckland award in December of next year. The union's assessors then retired, and the commissioner consulted with the employers in private.

When tho men returned, Mr Ireland intimated that the employers desired the whole matter to go to the Arbitration Court.

Mr Triggs pointed out again that the employers desired to maintain the present award until a dominion one came into force.

Mr Breen, who had relieved Mr Haymes as agent for the men, said tho idea of a dominion award was acceptable to the men, but a great deal of time—perhaps two years —would bo occupied in bringing' it into force.

The Commissioner: Are you propared to accept tho Christchurch or Auckland award for two years?

Mr Breen: In their m%in features, yes. The' Commissioner then suggested that the employers should take till tho following morning to consider the matter, and a fresh start could then bo made with the dispute. Mr Ireland said .the employers had decided upon a definite course of action, and preferred that tho whole dispute should go to tho court.

Tho Commksio'ner: That ends the matter so far as wc are concerned.

The council resumed its deliberations at a later stage, and with the assistance of Mr Roberts (clerk of awards) a,-somewhat more satisfactory conclusion was arrived at. The assessors for tho employers ugreed to consult with the other employers, and in order to enable them to do this the hearing of the dispute was adjourned till the 10th inst. • '

During July and August 63,923 tons of meat -were delivered at the London Central Markets, and of this amount 12,748 tons were British and 19;533 from Australia and New Zealand.