CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 5

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

CHRISTCHURCH HAIRDRESSERS. QTbom Ode Own Cobbespondent.) CHRISTCHURCH. October 16.' In a private conference with the employers the claims made by the Christchurch. Hairdressers and Tobacconists Assistants’ Union were agreed to with the exception of the clause in regard to holidays. Hie union asked that each assistant' should havo one week’s holiday on full pay during a week to be agreed upon between the employer and' employee, not Christmas week or Carnival Week. The full holidays suggested were New Year’s Day, Labour Day, the birthday of the reigning Sovereign, and Christmas Day. Partial holidays were the day following New Year's Day from boon, Easter Monday, and Boxing Day. : The question came before the Conciliation Council to-day. A minimum wage of £4 10s per week for journeymen, with bonus of 4s until the Arbitration Court shall otherwise order, was agreed to. Casual rates were fixed ns follows: —For a long day, 20s; for an ordinary day of eight hours, 17s 6d; for half a day or less, 12s 6d. Mr Martin, for the union, said he wished to express to the employers sincere appreciation of the fine spirit in which they had met the representatives of the union in -the private conference. Ho wished that all employers would meet their representatives, in the same spirit. They had endeavoured-to meet the union on all pointy The master hairdressers had never been to the court, and after the conference only the holiday question remained unsettled. One of the employers’ assessors* suggested that the employees should agree to accept |£4 5s and an annual holiday on halfpay, and another pointed out that the Wellington award recently filed fixed the minimum at £4 2s. Mr Martin: I put it to you, could you maintain yourself, a wife, and two children on £4 ss? - , “ Well, I don't think I could,” was, the' reply. “ Wellington has a minimum of £4 2s a week.” - Mr Martin; Yes, and that cursed Sydney system of commission on sale. You are badgered to buy all sorts of things all the time you are in the chair. I nope the system is never introduced here. Eventually an agreement was reached by making the holiday clause provide for an annual weekly holiday on half pay, and a' complete recommendation was made to the court.