WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5871, 13 May 1897, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

A CONCILIATION BOARD DECISION. ' [Per Press Association.*' , WELLINGTON, May 13. The Conciliation Board gave its judgment to-day in the dispute between the niaster tailors and their employes on four main points. Firstly, as to the proportion of apprentices to men ' being one in four ; secondly, as to weekly hands in the same proportion as apprentices ; thirdly, a minimum wage of £2 15s ; fourthly, in accordance with Judge Williams' judgment, that' Unionists were to have the preference, had already been decided. The employers and employes in the Conference had narrowed down the log to two items, and the Board gave its decision on these as follows : — The Board decided that the goods that the men claimed to be second class, and that the employers wanted to be third, be placed in an intermediate class, thus making a fourth class ; the hours and price to be half-way between the second and third class. As to oversize and undersize measurement, it deci- led that 31 to 41 on the waist was to be tie standard size, anything over 41 to be j>aid extra, and ' below 31 a reduction. Thi :■•• provides a minimum and maximum. At the conclusion, the chairman (Mr Quick) complimented both sides on the temperate manner in which they had approached the Board. He was pleased that not mi acrimonious word had been spoken throughout the sittings. Mr Eodgers, on behalf of the Tailors' Union, reiterated .the remarks of the chairman, and congratulated the Government on introducing legislation which permitted of disputes being settled without resort to strikes. He thought that the decision would be acceptable, although the employes had not obtained all that they desired. Mr Muir of Messrs King and Muir, speaking as an individual employer, also thought that the decision would be. acceptable, but until the meeting of the Master Tailors' Association he could nut give a final acceptance.