LABOUR MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 17732, 9 August 1917, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS

BUTCHERS’ UNION. The monthly meeting of the Invercargill Butchers’ Union, held on Monday evening, was well attended, the president (Mr A. Mcßobief occupying the chair. The secretary of the Labour Representation Committee wrote asking the Union to be represented at a meeting of the committee when the question of selecting a parliamentary Labour candidate would be discussed.—Received. The Inspector of Awards, Invercargill, wrote in reply to a complaint made by the Union that there was no evidence of an employer having employed assistants excessive hours, and stating that a complaint of the condition of a back shed was being enquired j into by the Borough Council and the Health I .Department.—Received. I The Inspector of Awards wrote stating j that, after having made careful enquiries, he was unable to get any proof that hours of work provided by the Shops and Offices Act had been exceeded. The assistants did not work after G p.m., and had a certain I amount of time to themselves during the j day, and received more than the minimum I prescribed by the award. The Inspector I said that, however, he would be glad to re- , eeive further definite information regarding the overtime worked.—Received. The Federated Butchers’ Association i wrote stating that the annual conference at 1 Wanganui had been fixed for September 19. —lt was decided not to incur the expense of being represented at the conference, but to abide by any resolutions passed at it. The secretary of the Invercargill Master Butchers’ Union wrote stating that the present award was due to expire in June, 1918, and as most, if not all, of the butchers were giving more than the wages allowed under the award, there did not appear to be any sound reason for reopening in the meantime the question of a war bonus. Therefore no good could result from a further conference. The Master Butchers’ Union was glad that the Workers’ Union recognise;! that the cannings of the employees were considerably greater now than they were formerly, and very much regretted to have to admit that the profits of the employers had considerably fallen off.—Received. Exception was taken to the action of a member of the Union in having left his employment without giving his employer the required notice, and it was pointed out that the member was liable to he prosecuted for a breach of the award. Several accounts were passed for payment.