FRIENDLY TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24256, 26 March 1940, Page 3

FRIENDLY TALKS

PRIVATE HOTELS’ DISPUTE QUESTION OF CONCESSIONS The application of the workers for a new Dominion award for private hotel and boardinghouse employees was considered at a Conciliation Council meeting in Wellington. Mr R. A. Spinley, of Auckland, assessor for the employers, states that after consideration of the questions raised the hearing was adjourned sine die, and the current award is to be observed in the meantime.

Difficulties, confronting employers were described at the meeting. A falling off in the number of tourists, and a shrinkage in the volume of the travelling public, owing to the war and petrol restrictions, made it impossible for private hotelkeepers to increase wages, or to offer improved conditions. On the contrary, it was felt by the employers that some amelioration of the existing terms was necessary if the industry was to survive. The employers suggested that the union should agree to accept the present award as a basis for the settlement of the dispute, and that the term of the award should be for six months. The workers’ representatives were not prepared to accept this offer, suggesting that the employers should agree to an extension of the annual holiday period from nine days to a fortnight. At the end of the first day’s sitting the employers agreed to consider this proposition and report back on the following morning. On resuming on the second morning, the employers’ assessors said they could not concede the extra annual holidays, and they asked again that an award to be agreed to on the basis of the current award. It was suggested that a recommendation be made to the Employers’ Associations throughout New Zealand, with a view to calling a conference to consider whether it would be possible to concede certain provisions to the workers, as by so doing it might be possible to ease some of the restrictive provisions and make it easier for employers to overcome the difficulty of increased costs. By so altering some restrictive provisions greater latitude would be allowed employers, without extending the hours of workers in the total over the week or imposing any real hardship. In return for this, the employers would have to be prepared to concede to the workers jsome of the new detailed provisions contained in the workers’ claims, which would not increase costs or impose greater hardship. There was a general desire on both sides, said Mr Spinley, to arrive at an amicable settlement.