CONCILIATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6551, 31 July 1899, Page 3

CONCILIATION BOARD.

— « — . THIS DAY. The hearing of the industrial dispute in the building trade, which had been adjourned from Thursday, was resumed at the Provincial Council Chamber at two o'clock this afternoon, when the full Board was present. Mr Greig, in addressing the Board, said that the builders objected to paying 10s 4d per day, and considered 10s quite sufficient. In Auckland the wage was 9s 4d per day. A Bill would shortly be brought before the House with a view of having the same award throughout New Zealand, and when this was carried through wages in Christchurch would come down. Mr Greig contended that jobbing builders would be practically ruined if compelled to' pay the 10s 8d demanded. The Board should also consider those \ builders who had already large jobs "in hand, which had been tendered for on the ten shilling baas, and to whom (the proposed rise would be a very serious matter. He would like the Board to put in a clause providing that every workman, should have a good kit oi tools, and another clause providing that an workman should pay for all the material he spoiled. He asked the Board to strike out the proportion clause, as he thought it a cruel thing that one class of men should be allowed to live while another class was not. The inferior men were already at a disadvantage, and now the Board was futher handicapping them. This would put the whole power into, the hands of the Unions, who would simply grade the inferior men out of all chance of an existence. He recommended that men over fifty should be allowed to work for a shilling a day less ; over 55 two shillings a day less, and over 60 for what they could earn. He also thought that a clause prohibiting smoking during working hours should be put in as it was unfair for men to dm payment for smoking. He thought that a man should be allowed to sell Lis labour a»d energy in the best market, without having his wage fixed by another man. He thought that an extra hour should be allowed for country work, as this had been the rule since the foundation of the province. With, respect to walking time beyond the belt, there had never. been any complaint under the mile limit, and the. proposed alteration, if carried out, would seriously afleetthe cost of all suburban jobs. Men must be deteriorating when they find a mile too far to walk, and the idea had not occurred to any one in Ms time. The 20 per cent on country jobs was simply a killing job for the city contractors, and would be bad for the men also, as if the city contractors did not get the Avork, the country contract :.js would, and the men would then have to work for 8s or 9s per day. With regard to travelling expenses, he would ask that no such, expenses should be paid before eight o'clock in the morning or after five afc 'night, and that .this should be clearly defined in the award. The employers felt the preference clause very keenly, as it practically took the management out of the- builders' hands, and placed it in those of the Unions. The builders did not want the trouble of being brought before the Board to state their reasons d or discharging any man. (Left sitting.)