CONCILIATION BOARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8304, 6 December 1906, Page 6

CONCILIATION BOARD.

SITTNG IN MASTERTON. T*<e Conciliation Board sat in Masterton, yesterday afternoon, to enquire not the Wellington plumbers' Industrial dispute. The members of tho Board presont were— Messrs P. J. O'Regan (chairman), H. luniss and F. Bedfjrd (employers' representatives), and A. Collin3 and A. H. Cooper (employees' representatives). There were also seven employers present. Messrs W. Willmot (secretary) and J. Campbell (vica-president) appeared on behalf of the Wellington Plumbers' Union.

The Chairman suggested that two persons should be chosen from tbe employers present to meet Messrs Willmot and Campbell In conference and discuss the points at issue. Messrs Si E. Wright and D. A. Piokeriug were appointed to represent the employers at the conference.

Trie object of the Board's visit to the country i« to Ret the plumbera in the oounrry to accept an award for plumbers. The Wellington Plumbers' Industrial Union of Workers desire the award to provide for a week of 45 hours and the rate of wages to lie Is 5d pet hour for certificated men uud la id per hour for uncertificated men, The employers are preparer! to give a minimum wage of Is 3d per hiur for a week of 48 hours. If the question of wa<es and hours could be agreed on, it is probable that there would be no difficulty in arriving at an agreement on all other points. The matter was thoroughly discussed yesterday afternoon,'and t.lu Board, after visiting other couofcjy towns, wijl return to Wellington and give their reoommendatiotis on the question'on or about December 17th. If their recommendation is not acoepted by the Employers and the Union, it will then remain for the Arbitration Court to make an award.