CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 13

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

ROPE AND TWINE MANUFACTURERS’ DISPUTE. AWARD TO STAND FOR ONE YEAR. An industrial dispute between Donaghy s, Rope and Twine Company, Ltd., Begg and Co., rope and twine manufacturers, and the Dunedin Rope and Twine Spinners’ Industrial L’nion of Workers was heard on Tuesday morning before a council of conciliation under Mr W. H. liaggar (commissioner). The applicants for the settling of the award were the employers, for whom Messrs 11. F. Sincock, R. Passmore and S. Cookson acted as assessors. The employees were represented by Messrs J. Robinson and W. Baker. Claims were presented by the employers and employees. An agreement was reached with regard to the wages for female workers, overtime, continuous work, payment of wages, accommodation, first aid appliances, and under-rate workers. In connection with the question of hours Mr Cookson said that if the hours were to be reduced the employers wanted a reduction in the wages. Later Mr Robinson explained that the reason for the request for reduced hours was that the industry might be brought into line with others throughout New Zealand. During a discussion whether the clauses in which no agreement had been reached should be referred to the Arbitration Court or not Mr Cookson said that the only way to settle the matter in council was for the employees to agree to the employers’ requests. Mr Sincock added that the factory hands and the union were evidently satisfied with the award. It seemed to be because of the Trades Hall policy that these questions had come before the council. Mr Robinson: Mr Sincock. I object to that remark. The matter was allowed to drop. Mr Robinson asked for an increase in the wages of female workers and youths, but Air Cookson refused to agree to anv increase on the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement of 1925. In reply to a request that the employers should grant the payment of full time for holidays such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, Mr Cookson said that a very sound policy for factories to adopt was that of “no work, no pay.” When a factory closed down there was no production, but in the case of distributin’” agencies and other firms the position was quite different as holidays had little effect on the volume of business. Mr Sincock stated that the employers were quite willing to enter into the terms ot the present award for a period of one two, or three years.

It was finally decided that the award yhich expired on May 7, should continue in force for another year.