LOWER WAGES OFFERED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 852, 28 August 1933, Page 8

LOWER WAGES OFFERED.

Tinsmiths’ Conditions Under Review. The wages and conditions of tinsmiths, coppersmiths and sheet metal workers in North Canterbury were discussed at a sitting: of the Conciliation Council to-day. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided, and the assessors were: Employers, Messrs W. R. Crompton, H. Oakley, J. Mercer and 1). T. Macdonald: employees’, Messrs E. Parlane, A. J. M’Clure, N. F. Grenfell, J. O. fiattersley and G. T. Thurston. The workers’ proposals were for a renewal of the existing award, while the counter-proposals lodged by the employers provided for a reduction in the rate paid for overtime from time and a half and double time to time and a quarter and time and a half, a reduction in the wages of journeymen, coppersmiths, sheet metal workers and tinsmiths from 2s 3d (less 10 per cent) to Is 10id, a reduction in the wages of other workers from Is' lljfd and Is 10Jd (both less 10 per cent) to Is 7?d and Is 6id. The wages paid youths in the old award were as follows, less 10 per cent in every case: Under sixteen years of age, £1 7s; sixteen to seventeen years, £1 15s: seventeen to eighteen years, £2 3s: eighteen to nineteen years, £2 13s: nineteen to twenty years, £3 3s. The new scale proposed by the employers was as follows: First year, 15s; second year, £1; third year, £1 7s 6d; fourth year, £1 15s; fifth year, £2 2s Gd. The employers also proposed a minimum rate for improvers of Is 4d an hour for the first year’s improvership and Is 6d an hour for the second. In the old award, the fixing of these rates was left to the Apprenticeship Committee to determine. A reduction in the number of holidays was also requested by the employers. The employers’ proposals relating to overtime were agreed to by the council.

Replying- to Mr Thurston, Mr Macdonald said that the employers could not agree to pay the rates agreed upon in Auckland and Dunedin. As soon as an agreement was made covering the engineering trade, the employers would agree to sign an agreement on the rates stated in that agreement.

Mr Thurston offered, on behalf of the employee's, to accept a journeymen’s rate of »•< 10gd.

Tlie luncheon adjournment was taken to allow the employers’ representatives an opportunity to discuss the offer.