PRIVATE HOTEL WORKERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 11

PRIVATE HOTEL WORKERS

HEARING OF DISPUTE ENDS Press Association ‘ WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Witnesses called by the employers in the private hotels’ dispute today expressed themselves as opposed to the insertion of a compulsory clause in the new award permitting union secretaries to go on employers’ premises once a week to interview employees. They said they considered it was a matter which should be left to an amicable arrangement. The union, said Mr. Wright, had made numerous . claims but had brought forward no evidence to support them. There had been no evidence to show that the hours asked for by the union, 44 a week, Yvcre workable or convenient. Mr. Kennedy bad relied on ancient history to establish his claim in regard to wages, quoting the basic wage as his only argument. In regard to the cost of living, clothing and drapery were cheaper but., food, which affected the employers, was dearer. The employers had shown a good case for probationers in the kitchen and dining room. The definition regarding plates was a serious matter, for it was not reasonable to pick out a portion of the crockery and say the washing of it was the kitchenmaid’s Yvork. There should be no changes in conditions since the last award was made. To justify the claims of the union Mr. Kennedy reviewed the evidence, which, he contended, supported the union claims. The award of the court will be made later.