CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

GAS WORKERS' DISPUTE

The Conciliation Council sat yesterday to hear a dispute between the Christchurch Gas Wor_s EmployeesUnion, and the Christchurch Gas Company.

Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, presided, and the assessors were: —Messrs. R. C. Bishop (secretary), R. English (engineer), arid H. C. Ridley (lighting inspector), for the Company, and Messrs. W. Wendelken, E. uarnett, and C. Bellman, for the Union.

The Union applied for an adjournment to enable Mr H. Hunter, who was appearing for them, to be present. Mr Bishop said that that was the first he had heard about Mr Hunter representing the workers. Some argument- took place on tho minimum wage question. The Commissioner said that no man should get less than £2 10s a week. He exhorted the workers to be reasonable, for the Company was about to pass through a critical Period. and the insistence by the men upon unreasonable demands might re-act prejudically upon themseles. Mr Bishop said that <it the Company were required to pay much more in wages, it would have to retrench and dispense with the services of men who were kept on practically for tho convenience of the public. After some further discussions it was resolved to adjourn the sitting in order that tho Commissioner and assessors miplit visit the works. ,

When tho sitting resumed the Commissioner said that the conditions undor which the men worked were quito •50 per cent, better than the conditions prevailing when he visited the works before. He congratulated the employers on the conditions they provided for the workers. Tlie ventilation and comfort could hardly be improved on, and now that they had seen the works he did not think they woiikl have much trouble in arriving at an agreement.

Several of the smaller points were agreed upon, and the Council adjourned till this morning.