UNIONS AT VARIANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 7

UNIONS AT VARIANCE

BRICKLAYERS’ DISPUTE COMMENT BY JUSTICE O'REGAN. [ Per Preee Association.) WELLINGTON, March 21. That the related workers’ unions would compose their differences before going to the Court of Arbitration, was a wish expressed by Mr. Justice O’Regan, president of the Court during the hearing of the Dominion bricklayers’ dispute. Representatives of the four workers’ unions other than the New Zealand Bricklayers’ Federation, appeared to protest against certain of the federation’s proposals which were presented by Mr. H. W. Mayo. Mr. E. C. Weavers, representing the Wellington Plasterers’ Union, objected to the inclusion of the words “trowelling floors” in the bricklayers’ award, claiming that this was plasterers’ work. He was followed by Mr. J. Hewitt, secretary of the Wellington Tilers’ Union, who objected to all classes of tiling work being included. His Honour: A great deal of the time of the Court has been wasted, since I have been here at any rate, in settling matters not only as between employers and employees but as between union and union.

Two further objections were yet to come. Mr. C. Nicholls, representing the New Zealand Stonemasons’ Union asked for all work in artificial stone to be reserved to the members of his union. Mr. L. Glover, secretary of the Municipal and General Labourers’ Union, asked for the retention of the words “in brick work” after the words “cutting openings and chases.”

His Honour: So far we have been occupied with matters which should have been settled by the different, unions before they came here. You cannot expect the Court to know all about these things. You would expect the unions, as a matter of policy, to come to some agreement. Mr. Weavers said that the Plasterers’ Union representatives had met the bricklayers but had been unable to agree. Since the other union was adamant, he had no option but to appear in Court.