UNDER-RATE WORKERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 6

UNDER-RATE WORKERS

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. The adjourned conference of the- Returned Soldiers' Association's representatives with delegates from the Otago Employers' As-. 6oeiation, Otago Labour Council, Amalga mated Society of Engineers, and the Dun«din Bootmakers' Union was held on the 10th in the association's rooms for the purpose gf discussing the question of granting under-rate workers' permits returned soldiers.

The ' following delegates attended: —Returned Soldiers' Association —Messrs W. Clarke, W. E. Farquharson, R.. P. Jones, and G. Smith; Employers' Association — Messrs F. W. Mitchell and Cookson; Manufacturers' Association—Messrs J,. G. Neil and Fletcher; Dunedin Bootmakers' Union — Mr S. C. Brown; Amalgamated Society of Engineers—Messrs S. J. Elston and A. J. Rice; Ironmasters' Association —Messrs J. A. Brown, and T. Gillies; Otago Labour Council—Messrs W. G. Cope and M. Silverstone; Otago Pati'lotio Association —Messrs Stoneham and Horn; motor garage proprietors—Messrs W. J. P. M'Culloch and A. Wimpenny. Mr W. (Clarke (vice-president of the association) was elected chairman. The Chairman explained that the conference had been called by the Returned Soldiers'. Association, who desired some assistance from the bodies represented in coming to a decision on the subject of the issuing of under-rate permits to returned soldiers. The conference was called after the association had received information alleging unjust treatment of men by private employers and Government departments in Dunedin. Since the conference first met in December information had been received by she association from other parts of New Zealand confirming the reports received as to the treatment of men here. There had been a great deal of issuing of permits, and men had been placed at work they had not done, previously. A number of these men had since become fit to follow their previous occupations. The men were being exploited, and the regulations of the Government respecting these cases were not being carried out. This matter was only in its infanoy, and how far_ it would go before it was stopped he did not know. The Government granted a subsidy of £1 per week to all men while they were undergoing training in the King Edward Technical College. Under the' regulations no man should be allowed outside the Technical College until such time as a temporary worker's permit had' been issued. They Jhad four or fivo cases of men who had been working for private employ ers_ for four or five months, and during the time they had been out of the Teohnical College. No permit had been issued, and no wages bad been paid by those employing them. All they had received was the £1 per week paid by the Government. It had been laid down that the Government would subsidise the wages received by these under-rate workers to bring them up to a maximum /»f £3 per Week. These men then were posing to the extent of £2 per week, and Were giving their labour outside the Technical College for no remuneration whatever. This was the main reason for the conference.

Mr Elston said that this was done with the full connivance of the local Labour Department and its There had been one man in a motor garage for three months and another had been placed in a second motor garage, and neither received any wages for the work they did. The important matter to be considered was the fact that the inspector of labour admitted that he knew all about it. The serious aspect of the question was that the law was being broken.' : Mr J. A. Brown asked what the position would be if these men refused to w r ork for private employers while they were undergoing their training.

The Chairman expressed the opinion that if they refused Mr Marshall, director of the Technical College, would report the matter to the Government and the subsidy of £1 per week would be withdrawn. Continuing, he said that since their last meeting on December 20 no permits had been issued and no men placed by the director of the Technical College, the difficulty appearing to be a hitch between Mr Marshall and the inspector of factories, who dealt with all cases. The inspector of factories admitted that he had no right to allow a man to work in a garage without a permit, but neither he nor Mr Marshall appeared to be sure of their position in the matter. The attack now being made was not fcgainst either of these gentlemen but against the Government, and the object of the conference was to endeavour to accomplish something that would remove the injustice of returned men working and receiving only £1 per week. A board was supposed to have been set up, but it seemed to have proved a complete farce. What was wanted was that a r tope*, ly-con-stituted board be set up which would know what the man who was being placed was worth. The men receiving instruction at the college were anxious to get out to receive practical instruction with a firm as soon as possible; but in the motor trade especially opportunities were scarce. Mr Silverstone entered on a lengthy tirade against employers generally, but the chairman explained that as there was a great deal directly bearing on the main subject to be discussed they must confine themselves to it.

Mr Mitchell remarked that men were being sent to garages without any training. They seemed to be just students. He had attended the meeting on behalf of the employers with a desire to help in any way possible, but hoped the returned soldiers had a proposition to put forward. Mr Gillies said it appeared to him that the Technical College had no facilities for giving practical instruction in any trade, and if the men were only students they could not be said to be employed. Mr S O. Brown made the statement that the inspector of factories had said that he did not know what his position was in this matter! He had applied to headquarters to have hie position defined, but had not received any satisfaction. Mr Silverstono moved —"That when a returned soldier applies to be apprenticed to any particular trade ho shall be placed under a oommitteo consisting of a soldier, a trade union representative, an employer, and the inspector of factories. This committee to regulato the wages and generally supervise the roturned soldier until he is declared a competent worker."

A desultory discussion took place, but was immediately stopped by the chairman, •who asked that the discussion be confined to the question of -under-rate permits to returned soldiers.

Mr Cope said the business of the conference was to bring pressure to bear upon the Government to have the Labour laws of the country better administered. He moved: —"That this conference calls upon the Minister in Charge of the Labour Department to see that his officers carry out their duties in respect to the issue of permits to returned soldiers sent out for the purpose of training." Mr Silverstone said that with all respect to his colleague he could not agree to the motion going forward on behalf of the Trades Council.

The Chairman said he could not accept Mr Silverstone's motion, because no man could learn a trade in 12 months, and the subsidy was payable only for that period. Then, again, the motion was covered by the order of the Governor-in-Council, respecting this matter. If the conference desired he would throw it open for discussion.

Mr Silverstone said that the motion would be a simple solution of the question. ,If it were not acceptable to the conference, then he and his colleague's business at the conference ceased.

The Chairman said he was not prepared to take threats from any member of the conference. If Mr Silverstone was prepared to challenge his ruling, then he asked to be relieved from his position until such time as Mr Silverstone's challenge had been considered. He was not going to be howled down by anyone. The men whose positions they were considering had given the best in their lives, and they were entitled to the best the association and the conference could get for them. He was present as vice-president of the association to protect the interests of these men.

Mr J. A. Brown said he was sorry this rift had taken place, and he believed it to be simply a question of misunderstanding. The returned soldier under the Order-in-Council might be engaged by a private employer without reference to the officials of the union governing the particular trade in which the soldier was engaged-. The Order-in-Council was all right except for a few words which suspended all awards so far as the employment of apprentices and under-rato workers went.

Mr Cope, whose previous motion had not been seconded, then moved—" That this conference urge the Minister of Labour to insure that the officers of his department carry out their duties with reference to the issuing of under-rate permits to returned soldiers with strict regard to the Order-in-Council governing same.!' Mr Elston seconded the motion. Mr Stoneham and Mr Horn urged that nothing be done which _ would_ militate against the returned soldiers being given an opportunity of learning a business" or trade they desired to enter. They owed the soldiers the best they could do for them. The motion was carried, Mr Silverstone dissenting on behalf of the Trades Council. Mr A. J. Rice moved—" That the Government should institute proper facilities, "where they do not already exist, to teach returned soldiers at the technical schools for

trades under which permits for under-rate workers are issued. m Mr W. J. P. M'Culloch seconded the motion, which was carried. The conference closed after a hearty vote of thanks had been passed to Mr Clarke for the manner in which he had controlled the proceedings.