CONCILIATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6597, 22 September 1899, Page 3

CONCILIATION BOARD.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Sept, 21. The Auckland Board of Conciliation met to-day to hear from the representative of the Master Curriers' Association whether the employers were prepared to accept the .recommendations mads bv the Board- last Saturday. Mr Jagger, chairman of the Master Curriers' Association, dealt with the Board's finding seriatim, pointing out where the employers considered amendments desirable. Considerable discussion took place over the question of wages. It was agreed that the minimum wage should be Is an hour. Mr Jagger stated he would consult his colleagues before giving a definite assurance that men receiving £2 10s per week would not be reduced. Personally he could say that none of his employees in receipt of the higher wage would be reduced. There was a good deal of argument over the question of boy labour. Eventually, on the suggestion of Mr Fawcus, both sides cepted tha following compromise — "Tnat no new; apprentices shall be taken on until the proportion of boys employed in the trade in general is reduced to the relative proportion of boys to men as provided in Clause 6." Mr Jagger's amendments of other clauses were agreed to by Mr Eegan for the employees, and the only clause at. which the parties remained at variance was Clause 11, which stated that employers should give preference to Unionists 'when employing curriers. Mr Jagger said that the employers wished the clause to read—' " That no preference be given to either Unionists or non-Unionists." He held the clause as printed interfered with their freedom of contract, and they could not agree to it. Mr Regan, on the other hand, said he could not agree to the clause being altered, at least not without consulting his Union. Eventually the Board agreed to adjourn until Monday to allow both representatives to consult, their respective colleagues on the point.