CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 120, 26 June 1914, Page 10

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

BACON CURERS. DISPUTE ADJOURNED. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr J. R. Triggs) heard the industrial dispute this morning between the Canterbury Freezing Works, Bacon, Manure, Soap, and Sausage-Casing Employees' Union, and T. H. Green and Co. and others. The assessors for the employees were Messrs G. Brown, W. Cook, and J. Bilton, and for the employers, Messrs T. H. Green, W. Wardell,' and C. W. Archerley. • The dispute concerned the baconcuring employees, Who are already covered by an award. The union submitted demands, the chief of which provided for an all-round increase in wages approximating 25 per cent, and asked ■for; their .adoption. The employers had lodged counter pioposals to the effect that they objected to the union's demands, and made formal application to annul the agreement at present in force, and also that any demands made should apply to the industry in every centre, upon the following grounds: (1) That the bacon-curing industry was one carried on in every district in tiio Dominion. (2) That there was no award in the industry outside Canterbury. (:>) That the demands sought to bind employers of only from 10 to 12 p?r cent, of the total hands employed in the industry. (•!•) That the business was a competitive one throughout the Dominion, and ■vstriv'tions of awards in one district the union would be prepared to organise were not under awards. (5) That the factories in Canterbury where there was an award were diminishing, whilst other factories in other ; centres where there were no awards were increasing. I Mr Kills submitted that the employers' counter proposals were not really I counter proposals to the union's dei mauds. Furthermore, the proposals had : not been in the hands of the assessors Jof the. employees before the sitting, I which was very unfair, ! Mr Ellis explained that he thought I the union woald be prepared to organise ! extensively with a view to obtaining a Dominion award, ami it was eventually cecided to adjourn the dispute on this ground ijiitil after July.2o.