THE WOOLLEN MILLS DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1219, 30 August 1911, Page 3

THE WOOLLEN MILLS DISPUTE.

WAGES AND HOURS. PRELIMINAKV CONFERENCE. The Conciliation Council sat yesterday to deal with the Woollen Mills dispute. Tho assessors for the employers were— Messrs. M. W. Rnmsden (Petone Mill?), Lethhead (Kampoi Mills). A. E. Donne (secretary Wellington Woollen Company); employers' assessors—Messrs. Kcnaldi (Kaiapoi), A. Walker (Petone), D. Dunderdalo (Peton?). Mr. P. L. Muir (Wellington) was present on behalf of the union, and Mr. \V. ,I'ryor on behalf of the employers. Mr. I'. Hallcy presided.

Mr. Muir at the outset -said- that ho. inuf-t congratulate the Wellington Woollen Company on having-, in Mr. W. Eomson, a manager who had been absolutely fair since tho union had been formed. Mr. Muir then briefly outlined some of the "demands" that had been filed by tho workers. They desired a week ot 48 hours—eight hours and three-quarters for five days of tho week, and four and a quarter on Saturdays. Overtime, they desired, should be paid at the rate of time and a quarter for the first four hours, nnd after that time and a half. Details were given in regard to piece work, and the wages to bo paid in tho various grades. A representative of the Engine-drivers' Union appeared, and asked that the en-gine-drivers employed in the mills be exeluded from the award. They had a union and an award of their own.

Mr. Pryor replied that the employers were desirous of having one award covering tho wholo of the employees. They did not want fourteen or fifteen awards covering the industry, or to have to keep four or five solicitors constantly inteTpiytthe law. He had been instructed to object to flic engine-drivers withdrawing —at all events at the present stage. The representative of tho Engine Drivers' Union then withdrew.

The Chairman: "Is there an endeavour to get the awn.nl to apply to the whole of the woollen mills of the Dominion?" Mr. Jiuir: "We wish the matter to oc-me to a settlement, and perhaps it will give a lead to the mills in other districts, as to the lines upon which they should go." It was also said that meetings had been held at Christchurch, but they had been barren of results. Mr. Muir said the same award might not apply, justly, all over the Dominion. Living, for instance, was higher at Petono than elsewhere. Mr. Pryor said that at Christchurch it had been felt that nothing could be done for Christchurch alone. The position was the same in regard to Wellington, except that the- claims here wero higher. lie went on to say that unless the matter could be discussed from a Dominion point of view, it was little hsj going on. Each mill was in competition with the other, and one mill, therefcTe, must not have better treatment than another. This condition had been recognised by both parties at the initiation of tho negotiations. Mr. Muir practically recognised these facts. He agreed that it would be better to have nn arrangement so that the demands irc-m all the Dominion could bo laid before the Arbitration Court at the ono time. Mr. Pryor said the employers wore not shirking tho award, and they would meet the demands at all the centres; but they desired to have a general award for tho whole Dominion. Mr. Muir had no doubt that tho suggestions of Mr. Pryor would be acceptable to his union. He promised to submit them.

Tho matter was then deferred, the employers in the meantime to bo supplied with detailed schedules of the demands of tho men.