CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16545, 19 November 1915, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND RANGEMAKERS. Yesterday the range-makers' dispute was before the Conciliation Council, presided over by Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner for Otago and Southland. The assesors" for the employees were Messrs John Henry Kewish, Henry Morrow, and Samuel J. Elston ; for ' the employers, Messrs J. B. Shaddock, J. M'Connell, and R. Brinsloy. The employers cited were: Shaddock (Ltd.), R. Brinsley and Co., Barningham and Co., Newbury, Walker (Ltd.), and Allan, Langmuirj and.Co. (Ltd.). The question of hours was first discussed. The employers asked for 48 hours a week and the employees 44 hours. In answer to the commissioner, Mr Elston said that, under the Christchurch award, tho number of hours was 47.—Tho Commissioner said the Arbitration Court no doubt meant the Chrktchurch award for a dominion award. It was made on May 15. He hoped the parties would be guided by that award.—Mr Elston said he believed most of the works in Dunedin were working 44 hours a week already. Only one firm in Dunedin worked 48 hours After a short discussion on hours, the Commissioner repeated the hope that the parties would be guided by the Christ church award. There was not much chance of the employers getting less or of the employees getting more. If one part of the dominion worked under better conditions than another the competition was not fair. He believed l if the matter went to the court the Christchurch award would be given. That had been done in every other industry. After the parties had talked over the matter for a little time they agreed to accept the clause in the Christchurch award, as follovys: "The number of working hours per week shall not exceed 47; four hours and a-half only to be worked on Saturday, and not more than 8f hours ordinary time to be worked on any other day." Overtime and holidays was the next subject, and was adopted' as follows: "Extra time shall be worked when required, and shall be classed and be paid for as,overtime at the following rates:. Time and a-quaTter for the first two hours, and time and a-half afterwards. Double time shall be paid for all work done on Saturday afternoon, Sunday, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Sovereign's Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day I ."—ln the discussion on this clause it was evidently conceded by both parties, that overtime on each day stood by itself. The clause with Tegard to travelling time was adopted as in the Christchurch award, as follows: "Any worker employed .to work at a distance from his employer's shop shall be paid for his time until he returns to his shop, or home, provided his home is not a greater distance from his work than his shop. Employees shall be paid their fares and reasonable travelling expenses, and, if required to. stay away from home, their board and lodging. Not more than eight hours shall be paid for /travelling in any one day.'.' The clause dealing with boys was then considered. The Christchurch award provides for a payment of 7s 6d in the first year, 10s second, year, 15s third year, 20s fourth _ year, and 25s fifth year, but the Dunedin employers were prepared to pay higher rates, and the clause was adopted as follows: " Boys* may be employed in the proportion of not more than one to every two journeymen fully employed during the previous six months, and then shall be paid not less than the following wages per week: For the first .year, 7s 6d; for the second year, 12s 6d;"for the third year, 17s'6d; for the fourth year, 22s 6d; for the fifth year, 305." The under-rate workers' clause was accepted as in the Christchurch award. When the preference clause was under consideration, Mr Elston said he would prefer the preference clause as put forward in the union's demands. The Commissioner said the preference clause had helped the unions a good deal, and some of them had told him they did not wish a better one. Mr Elston said he would like the preference clause in the general engineers' award, in which this paragraph was included: "Whenever an employer shall employ a worker who is not a member of the union he shall within three days thereafter give notice in writing of such employment to the secretary of the union." This clause was now in a number of awards - and was working smoothly. If a man said he was a member of a union and he was not, the union would prosecute him.—The clause in the Christchurch award was agreed to. The wages clause in the Christchurch award is as follows: " The wages for oVen, ashpan, funnel, and register makers and' for range fitters and polishers shall be not. less than Is 4d per hour, and for grinders and body fitters not less than Is 2d per hour." The employers' representatives had a conference in private regarding this clause, and when the reprer-entatives on the other side returned to the room they were informed that the employers were prepared to accept the clause in the Christchurch award. The employees being agreeable, the clause was agreed to. It was decided that the award should come into force on December 1 and continue in force until November 9, 1917, which is the date of expiry of the Christ' church award. A clause dealing with " dirt nuisance " was- brought forward by Mr Morrow. The clause asked for was as follows: "Evenemployer'to have installed suction plants and guards to emery wheels, polishing and dry grinding wheels, and that they be sufficiently fenced and guarded; that the employer supply to the worker hot water for making tea at lunch time, also for washing their hands at noon and finishing time alt 5 o'clock.". Mr ;Shacklock said the employers had been attempting for a long time to get rid of the dust nuisance, and were always experimenting with it. Mr Morrow said the nuisance had been done away with in America. After a conversational discussion, the employees left the matter in the hands of the employers, with the assurance that everything would be done to get rid of the nuisance. On the motion of Mr Elston, seconded by Mr Brinsley, vote cf thanks was accorded the commissioner for his services to the parties. -