DRAPERS' DISPUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 964, 14 March 1917, Page 4

DRAPERS' DISPUTE.

CASE REFERRED TO ARBITRATION COURT. The sitting of the Conciliation Council, under the presidency of Mr J. R. Triggs, was continued yesterday afternoon. Mr Free said that the employers were prepared to discuss the Wellington award as a basis. Some women assistants were cheap at £3 and others were dear at .'SO/-; the minimum wage was not made the maximum. Mr Martin said that his experience was that the minimum was made the maximum. The Commissioner said that if the employers were willing to concede the Wellington rate of wages they were conceding a very fair thing. The employers retired to consider the position, ami, on returning, said that they would be willing to concede the rates provided in the Wellington award, conditional on the union agreeing that females employed wholly or substantially in the dress, Manchester, drapery-furnishing, or print department, be paid one-third more than the i wages specified for females. In thhj respect the union was contending for I females being paid the same wages as i males when employed in the following i departments:—Men's and juvenile cloth- ! ing, mercery, hats, hosiery, silks, vol-! veteen, dress goods, Manchester, furnishing, drapery, carpets, linoleums. I bedding, cotton dress goods, prints, etc.! The Wellington rates offered were:— J.

Mr Martin said that he was not at all satisfied with the Wellington award, and, so far as he was concerned, he would sooner send the matter to the court. Mr Free said that the employers were not satisfied either with the Wellington award, and would just as soon that the matter was referred to the court. Mr Martin later offered to agree to the Wellington wages, conditional or. an increased wage being given to women employed in men's departments, assistants being granted one week's holiday in each year, and half-past fi closing. In reply to the Commissioner, the employers said that there was absolutely no chance of their conceding what MiMartin asked. After some further discussion, it was decided to adjourn till the following morning to permit the parties to consult their principals. NO SETTLEMENT REACHED. When the Conciliation Council reassembled this morning, the proceedings were brief. Mr Free, on behalf of the employers, announced that a meeting had been held on the previous evening, and, as a result, they were not empowered to agree to the union's demands for Easter Saturday, as a holiday, or one week's annual holiday. They were prepared to accept the Wellington award, with the alteration asked for by the union that porters should be classified as storemen, and receive storemen 's wages. Mr Martin and Mr Steel, on behalf of the union, announced that they could not accept the terms, and would prefer to let the Arbitration Court decide the issue. It was then decided that the case be referred to the Arbitration Court. The Commissioner expressed his pleas lire at the pleasant nature of the proceedings. Each side had treated the other with forbearance, and he particularly wished to compliment Mr Martin on the gentlemanly manner in which he had conducted the case for the union. Mr Free endorsed what the Commissioner had said concerning the spirit in which the discussion had been conducted, and added his appreciation of the courteous manner in which Mr Martin had discharged his duty.

Per \\ eek Male ■s. 1 "emales. I'irst year . .. 0 12 G 0 10 0 Second year .. . .. 0 17 r, 0 12 6 Third year ...12 G 0 IS 0 Fourth year .. . . .. 1 10 0 1 0 0 1 Fifth year . . .. 1 15 0 15 0 Sixth year ... ...22 0 17 0 Thereafter . . . . .. a 5 0 1 15 0