DEADLOCK REACHED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 12

DEADLOCK REACHED

PRINTING TRADE DISPUTE .MAJOR POINTS FOR COURT PAY, HOURS AND HOLIDAYS (Per Pr«ss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. When the Conciliation Council proceedings in connection with 'the ixe.w Zealand printing trade award were resumed yesteraay, Mr. K. Baxter, advocate ior the unions' assessors, stated that his side was not prepared to agree to the proposal of -trje employers, which included the present rates of wages, the existing classification and 1 the present hours with an arrangement toy which itwo or four hours extra a day could be worked at ordinary rates. Mr. C. H. Chapman said that the object of the Government in the encouragement of greater production was not to increase the hours of labour, but to ensure Chat a higher standard of living could be enjoyed. The adoption of a longer working week would be running counter <to the objects of the Government. Mr. H. J. Tubbs said he understood the main object in asking for extra production was to protect the falling value of the New Zealand pound. The commissioner: As far as the internal arrangements are concerned, the falling pound does not matter a straw. In the course of a general discussion relating to the maintenance of the standard of living and the pant that machinery plays, Mr. J. M. Hardcastle said there were 168 hours in the week and the employers were allowed the use of the machinery for 40 hours only. He pointed out that the need was not for an extra shift hut for- a fractional increase. The employers did not want an extra 120 hours, but 12 or 15 hours. Alter further discussion, the commissioner remarked that the proposals of the employers had been definitely refused and he took it ithat was .final. He suggested it might be possible to arrive at a irate in advance of the existing rates for the two or four hours asked for. After further discussion, Mr. Clarkson said the employers had invited the co-operation of itihe workers and had hoped' their submissions would receive 'some consideration, but they had 'been idly brushed- aside. The employers would remain firm on the maintenance of the classification. They would agree to no increase in wages because they believed them to be already uneconomical'ly high, and would remain firm in their aim for increased hours of work in those offices needing it. The employers' were quite prepared 'to lot those principal features go to court without any further discussion.

A deadlock having arisen on wages, hours, holidays and classification, the parties spent the remainder of the day discussing 'the machinery clauses. The non-irepresentation of female workers was criticised by Mr. B. Maiitin, secretary of the Auckland Female Printers Assistants' Union, iand it was agreed that, during the 'discussion of female workers' wages, he should replace one of the assessors nominated by the New Zealand union. Mr. Baxter said it was .desired to eliminate the Auckland and Wellington female printers assistants' awards and include those subject to them in a general Dominion award. .—Mr. Martin raid his-union -had..JiQ objection to being cited as parties to the award, hut they wanted reasonable opportunity of being heard' as they had been consulted by neither the respondents nor the applicants.