SEVERE BLOW TO NEWSPAPERS

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 8

SEVERE BLOW TO NEWSPAPERS

Effect Of War On Advertising

CONCILIATION COUNCIL HEARS DISPUTE WORKERS ACCEPT TERMS OF EMPLOYERS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. The opinion that it was safe to say that newspaper proprietors had suffered to a greater extent than most other trades and callings, first by reason of the import restrictions, and in the second place, and more particularly, because of the war, was expressed by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr M. J. Reardon) during the hearing of the dispute of the Dominion printing and related trades today.

The assessor for the employers, Mr J. M. Hardcastle, of Auckland, suggested that a temporary solution should be arrived at in the dispute. The present was not the time when they could, with any confidence, make an award. Certain modifications of the wage rates suggested by the employers could be brought into operation voluntarily by the employers and the Conciliation Council hearing could be adjourned, either to a date to be fixed later or for a set number of months. “There is no great hardship to anybody in carrying on under the award as it stands,” Mr Hardcastle said ‘“We can see how the situation develops. The employers simply do not know where they will be 12 months from today. I am certain the workers’ assessors recognize that this is not a time when anybody can seriously ask for additional holidays.” After all, said Mr Hardcastle, there was a war on and it was playing havoc with the business or every newspaper and printer in New Zealand. “It is wrecking our plans, destroying our business and upsetting our staff organization in the loss of men and the effect on the country as a whole is going to be calamitous,” he said. “We do not want to take advantage of the situation, and we are not in a position to do so even if we wanted to.” DROP IN ADVERTISING Mr Reardon said he had been informed by a man in one of the advertising agencies that when the Customs restrictions came in a 25 per cent, reduction in advertising turnover had been expected. That had occurred in the first month, but had been a mere circumstance to what happened when war was declared.

The attitude of the employers to . the reinstatement of men to their positions when they returned from active service was outlined by Mr Hardcastle in reply to a question by a workers’ assessor. The question had been considered at a recent conference of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, he said, and the attitude of the employers was that if a man enlisted he would be taken back into his previous employment when he returned if it could be done. However, no employer who was prudent at all could guarantee the men jobs when they returned. Mr Hardcastle said, because the employers did not know whether they would be able to do it. Men who enlisted were being told that if the employer took any one on to the staff during their absence every appointment was being made subject to termination on their return from active service. Every employer would do his best to take back men when they returned, but no employer could give a guarantee. The agent for the workers, Mr K. Baxter, said the workers’ assessors appreciated all the circumstances At present they were prepared to accept the changes which had been offered by the employers. He suggested that the council should adjourn sine die and the commissioner be empowered to call it together again at the request of either side. This course was agreed to and the council adjourned. EMPLOYEES’ POINTS

The employees put forward the following 10 points for discussion: (1) Two weeks annual holiday on pay. (2) The abolition of Class 11. (3) The adjustment of the wages rates of semi-skilled, unskilled and junior workers on the basis of the Court’s pronouncement of September 1937. (4) The abolition of the 10-hour day. (5) Linotype piece operators’ output to be calculated on the number of ens to the line.

(6) A clause defining the work of stereotypers. (7) The meal interval and period of work to be in accordance with the Factories Act, 1936. (8) A wage scale for workers employed in stationery manufacturingenvelope machine adjusters and dye cutters.

(9) A claim for reduced hours of work for night workers. (10) Alignment of female wages and hours.

The employers indicated that they were prepared to discuss certain of the proposals. Mr W. E. Clarkson (agent) said that in respect of assistant machinists, the employers were prepared to adopt the employees’ suggestion and bring the wage to £4/17/6 in lieu of £4/15/-. GENERAL HANDS Mr Clarkson said the employers felt there was some merit in the suggestion put forward on behalf of general hands. At present, after three years’ experience they received £4/10/-. The employers proposed to meet the position by paying £4/10/— after one year’s experience, instead of after three yea; . So far as the work in manufacturing stationery establishments was concerned, Mr Clarkson said the employers were prepared to pay envelope machine adjusters in charge * of a machine or machines after three years £5/7/6, the general hands’ clause tt> apply until then.

On the question of alignment of female wages, the employers felt that the wage clause was linked up with the general question of .vag Mr Clarkson said, and that it would be undesirable to interfere with it at present. The employers agreed that juniors in all departments over 16 years of age should be paid on the apprenticeship scale.

The employers’ proposals on these points were agreed to by the men. After a discussion, the employers conceded a terminating rate of £2/19/- for senior girls, in place of £2/18/-, as at present.