THE PETONE DISPUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11670, 10 April 1916, Page 5

THE PETONE DISPUTE.

OFFER BY THE COMPANY. SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSION TO UNION DEMANDS. When the representatives of the Wellington Woollen Company and the Woollen Workers' Union met on Thursday, at. the invitation of the Prinie Minister, to discuss the dispute which has brought about a stoppage at the Petone Mills (savs the "New Zealand Times "). the basis of a ■ uoswhlo agreement was put. forward on behalf of the employers. The terms offered by the company for a settlement of the deadlock were as follow : " All male workers up to and ineluding; 48s per week, and all female workers up to and including 27s 6d per week, a war,' bonus of 10 per cent as from February 1 last. "All male workers above 48s and female-workers above 27s 6d a,'war bonus of 5 per cent as from February ].,' also a back bonus of o per t.'«-'nt on the .six months' earnings (innludinp overtime) ended January 31, 1910. "The. war bonuses are payable after each fourth pay day. and the special bonus of 0 per cent at the eloso cf the company's financial roar. . Any employee leaving between bonus V>oy days to recciv* amount acerued at time of leaving." The deadlock arose from a demand mode by the union lor a general increase of 10 per cent in the wages of all employees at ihe mills. The company offered,' alter the earlier negotiations, a o per cent increase, and this offer was rejected by the workers. Since then the Arbitration Court has made a recommendation in favour of a war bonus of 10 per cent on wages, in view of the rising cost of living. The terms now put forward by the company take that recommendation into consideration and represent a very substantial advance on ilie earlier offer. The members <;!' the union met on Thursday evening to consider the company's offer, but no ininouiicoment has yet been made concerning the result of their deliberations. The oiler was not accepted outright, but it is understood Unit the union has not made a definite refusal. The margin of difference between the parti, > is now very slight, and there appears to be reason to hope that a settlement will be reached within the next feu da\s.