CHRISTCHURCH SITTINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9271, 25 June 1908, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH SITTINGS.

This morning, at 10 o'clock, the Arbitration Court resumed its sittings. CARPENTERS' DISPUTE. Messrs Notfc, Guntrip and Wilson appeared on behalf of th c Carpenters and Joiners' Union, and Messrs Jacques, Chiok, Rowe and J. Grieg for the employers, and Messrs Mitchell and Hopkins for the Chrietchurch and Canterbury Meat Companies respectively. His Honor said that the Union, must satisfy the Court of the necessity for altering the old award made in November, 1905. Mr Nott contended that the cost of living had greatly increased since then. His Honor: Is not Is 4d a living wageP Mr Nott: Carpenters lose a great deal of time, your Honor. His Honor: If you increase the rate of pay, there will be lees work available for the carpenters. Mr Nott: Not necessarily, your Honor. The prices of timber nave increased and yet building increases too. Mr Brown asked if it was suggested that Chrietchurch carpenters should be paid more than Wellington carpenters, who had higher rente to pay. Mr Wilson said that Christchurch carpenters did not come into competition with Wellington carpenters. Mr Chick said that if the demand for higher wages was waived, an agreement could probably be come to. The employers wanted uniformity of conditions 'in all the building trades. Provision to work shifts was required when necessity arose. Mr Wilson eaid the Union would not agree, under any oircumstances, to the eight-hour shift. The demand was absurd, and was only made by one employer. Mr Nott then opened the case for the Union, arguing the matter in, the same way as before the Conciliation Board in, April last. Rents in Christohurch were oheaper than in Wellington, but many standard commodities were dearer. Meat was from lid to 2d dearer, and woollen goods had also increased. The agitation for reduction of railway freight between Lyttelton and CiristohurcE indioated a heavy tax on imported goods. The increase of wages asked for would not involve 1 per cent increase 'in the cost of jo'beDuring recent years timber had. Increased in price over 44 per oent, and wages had increased only 6 to 8 per cent. The various demands of the Union were the-n referred to in detail. Messrs Mitchell and Hopkins asked for exemption, for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company and the Christchurch Meat Company for two underrate men employed at Islington and Belfast mainly for repairs ; also exemption in regard to weekly payment, the present custom being fortnightly. AndreAV Menzies, plasterer, called on behalf of the Union, said that plasterers did not lose much time through weather conditions. He was not in favour of working eight-hour shifts. A plasterer's outfit of tools cost a/bout £1. To Mr Jacques : The last year or two the men had lost no time at all ; there was very little outside work done, but more of this was being done lately. Carpenters lost more tame than plasterers. The Hon J. Barr (stonemason), and Messre F. J. Eldridgo, Alexander Seivwright and Guntrip gave evidence corroborating their statements made before the Conciliation Board. This closed : the Union's caee. George Simpson (builder), called by the employers, said that in his experience the tendency of rents was to come down. He had a six-roomed house, with all modern conveniences, whioh he could not let even at 15s 6d per week. The building trade was very slack at present. He employed no under-ratq men. Mr Chiok said he would contend that the number of biiilding permits issued by the City Council in 1906 and 1908 snowed 1 & distinct falling-off in the building trade. In May, 1906, seventyfour permits were issued, of a value of £40,480, and in May, 1908, thirtynine permits were issued, valued at £53,840. This last amount included large contracts, owing to the disastrous fire. Witness, when cross-examined by the Union representatives, said he had put up no workingmen's houses worth 10s to 11s per week. Mr Chick said the employers felt they had not a very strong case to answer, and they would therefore call no further evidence. He contended that there was nothing in the building trade to warrant an increase of wages. The increase in the cost of timber was due mainly to three causes — (1) Limitation of easily available timber areas; (2) increased wages to mill employees ; and (8) increased freights on steamers owing to seamen's awards and so forth. Mr Wilson: And to the timber ring. Mr Chick then discussed the employers' proposals in detail. Mr William Goes asked that the employers employing carpenters in factories should be allowed to work these carpenters forty-five hours per week, as was done bythe timber-yard workers. He also objected to the two hours' notice of dismissal. There would only be about half a dozen employers concerned. To Mr Wilson : Ho only wanted that to apply to the men employed in the factories. Mr S. M'Murray 6aid that his firm were wholesale sash and door makers, and he asked that a piecework clause should be inserted in accordance with the Auckland award. Mr Wilson contended, on behalf of ' the Union, that the figures given by.j Dr Findlay recently put the oost of living for a worker's family at £2 9s 9d, and a carpenter's wage at present was only £2 10s. According to Dr Findlay living had gono up 20 per cent in the last ten years. Tho Union demands were then dealt with in detail. . Mt Nott pointed out that piecework was against the rules of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, and mem-> bers of that union would therefore bo debarred from the piecework clause, Mt Wilson asked that the term of the award should bo for twelve months. Mr Chiok said the employers objeoted to that; they wanted tho term two years at least. \ At- 12.45 the Court adjourned till 10 a.m. next day.