CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1577, 4 March 1919, Page 9

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

DRIVERS' DISPUTE. The Commissioner (Mr W. 11. Hagger) presided over a sitting of the Conciliation Council in Christchurch this morning, when the recent Auckland agreement in the drivers' dispute was practically accepted for the Canterbury district. The assessors for the employers were Messrs H. J. Otley, C. E. Beadel, and J. McFerran, with Mr H. A. Broadhead agent. For the employees, Messrs Hiram Hunter, J. D. Eraser, and H. H. McCaw appeared. The dispute was filed by the employers, who demanded the terms of the old award. The union's counter-proposals were drafted ou the Auckland agreement, and this, with a slight alteration as to the holidays to be observed, was adopted by the parties. Amongst others, all freezing companies and meat works were struck off the list of parties to be joined. The term of the agreement is two years from March 1, 1919.

BREWERY WORKERS.

AGREEMENT REACHED. In the Canterbury Seed Company's iooms last evening, Mr W. H. Hagger, Conciliation Commissioner, presided over a conference of representatives of employers and employees in the malting and brewery trade, with reference to an application made by the union for increases in wages to balance the rising cost of living. Messrs C. H. Hewlett, Geo. Hickmott, and H. J. Otley acted as delegates for the employers, and Messrs E. Walker, W. Eae, and Heggs for the union. After' a late sitting, a complete agreement was arrived at. Wages settled upon (.with the old rates in brackets) were: —Coopers, £3 16/- (£.'3 7/6 and 5/- war bonus); headers up, £3 13/6 (£3 '>/- and 5/-); brewery, malthouse, and bottle-store hands, £3 6/- (£2 17/6 and 5/-); casual workers, 1/6 per hour (1/4J). In regard to drivers, the conditions recently decided upon in Auckland were accepted, i.e.: £3 6/- per week of 48 hours, and all stable time to be paid for at the rate of 1/4* per hour for the first four hours, and thereafter the ordinary rate (1/9 per hour). The old rate for drivers was £2 18/-, plus 5/war bonus, for a 45-hour week, with the addition of eight hours' stable time, without payment. Youths' wages were increased thus: —Seventeen years of age, £1 7/6 (£1 2/6); 18, £1 12/6 (£1 7/6); 19, £2 2/(£1 15/-); 20, £2 7/6 (£2). The rate for Sunday work was increased from 2/- to 2/3 per hour, and it was decided that the agreement should come into force on March 22, 1919. It is the intention of the parties to apply to the Court, under the War Eegulations of last session, for an amendment to the present award.