MOTOR MECHANICS’ AWARD

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1928, Page 13

MOTOR MECHANICS’ AWARD

PIECE WORK MAY BE SOUGHT. OPPOSITION OF THE UNION. By Ttlegraph.—Press Association. . Christchurch, Oct. 5. "Even if the Arbitration Court includes it in the award it will not be binding. The men will not work under the system if they do not want to do so.” These remarks were made by Mr. R. F. Barter (Auckland), one of "the assessors for the workers, when Mr. J. F. Cousins (secretary of the New Zealand Motor . Trade Association) stated at a sitting of. the Conciliation. Council this morning .that the employers proposed to' ask the Arbitration Court to provide - for piece work or the premium bonus system in the motor mechanics’ award. Mr. Barter declared his uncompromising hostility to the premium bonus system and said that the workers in the New Zealand motor industry did not wish to have American methods introduced. Then he made the remark quoted.

“You mean a strike,” remarked Mr. E,- King (Wellington), one of the. employers’ assessors. “I’m siot using the word strike,” Mr. Barter replied... Mr. King: “Well, that is what your statement means.”

In view of the attitude of the union Mr. Cousins said that it was useless discussing the matter further at. that stage. He intimated that the proposal would be submitted to the Arbitration Court.

•WRONG IMPRESSION CREATED.” REMARKS MADE ONLY JOCULARLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. "A wrong impression has been created,” said Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, at the conclusion of to-day’s sitting of the Conciliation Council investigatng the motor mechanics’ dispute, “by the publication of tho statement attributed to Mr, Barter regarding a strike if piece work were adopted in the motor-manufacturing trade in New Zealand. “As a matter of. fact the remarks on both sides were made more in a jocular manner, Piece work will be discussed very seriously by both sides at to-mor-row’s sitting, and the prospects are that a very reasonable solution of the difficulty will be reached. Mr. Hally reported, that generally good progress had been made at the council meeting to-day. The council would resume to-morrow.