THE WAREHOUSEMEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 8

THE WAREHOUSEMEN.

AND CONCILIATION. SIiTTLKMENT NOT IN SIGHT. WHAT sonr OF UNION? MM'.TY I'h'i; I'll,NT. o]M'o?i; IT. 1)11 rn llinri' llic l\'.lrf'll('lls' , llK'n , > di.-pul'' imtii |iit il tlii 4 t nlirili.'i I inn t ri|llirii:>ionf'r (Mr. I'. H illy) mill n Oiririlinl.ion (Vi'iiicil vr-ti'i'il'i,*. T-'h ;fl IloniPiil. "lis ;irriv«'«l at i 111 ,v rilinlc IV'ftltilll linillt al i?suo, A ijillirnlti' rr('|i|ii'<l up lit llin "Hilsfl rmiiiK Hi'' nf Mr. 11. Trw?li'.v mill Mr. \V. I'orßUfon, two of omp!ntits' ;i. -i'-mm'-, Mr. 'JVivsloy wn.s imalila lo hlli'ikl lliroii;;]) illno?.', nlid Mr. 1-VrKHM'ii liocimisi; hf ivns not ill WellingInn. T»'o siili'.tiliitc.s were r.lioscn, liowfvor, .-tiid llic employer;,' representative then were Mc;si'~. G. Mngnus, W. If. I3alliiiffcr. inn] W. Tliompfon. The employee.;' assessors were Me,?srs. G. 0. F.'irlnnd, .1. n. Wef.lerby, and 1). Simpson. Mr. \V. A. \V. Greiifoll appeared as agent for tli:« employers, and Mr. A. 11. Cooper, as fluent for the union.

; Storemen First. 1 • The Commissioner said that he understood that the parties had agreed that the dispute should bo divided into two seclinns—one for storemen, and one for warehousemen's assistants. Mr. Grenfell stated that the employers wore not agreeable to that. Thojr were willing that the dispute, so far as it concerned storemen, should be settled first but, if Iho union wanted any agreement or award [or assistants, the union must create a. fresh dispute. Tor tho purpose of the separation of the sloremen's case from that of the assistants, those clauses relating to assistant? only were struck cut of the demands. Tlie list of employers cited, had not, however, been revised. Mr. Grenfell asked whether tho union's assessors complied with the provisions of the Act. as regards qualifications. The Commissioner was not 'sure, but as this was a. case' in" which he could give but little lead, lie would: be glad if the employees' assessors, were storemen. - Mr. Wejterby explained that lie was at present employed as j storenjan. Mr. Simson stated that he had had experience as a storoman,-though not in New Zealand. Mr. Grenfell objected * to' such employees as porters, cleaners, liftmen, and night-watchmen being brought, into the dispute. These men could not be classedas storemeu. Jtr. Cooper contended that this was the only section of the dispute under which these men could be brought in. They certainly could not be classed as warehousemen's assistants. In any case, thers ought to be no difficulty in arriving at. a satisfactory settlement .'as to what remuneration they should receive. On the Commissioner's suggestion, the council agreed to let decision on the matter stand over in the meantime. Why Not a Sloremen's Union? The list of employers cited was then called over, and a large number of objections were made by ' Mr. . Grenfell. The main ground of objection was that certain employers, whose names he wished struck out, did not employ men who' were wholly or substantially occupied as storeimn. Exemption was also claimed for several wool and grain merchants on' the ground that their storemeu were already .working under. another award. :The. Commissioner suggested, to Mr. Cooper .that' the storemen , might join with the other . storemen ' mentioned in forming a. Storo.iuen's .Union.':.. .Mr. Cooper: That is a matter for the union. Mr.- Farland remarked that the union had 400:.members. 3lr. Cooper suggested that the usual procedure should be followed, by the council, and that, the claims should ' be discussed .seriatim, informally, by tho council in committee. ■ Mr. Grenfell agreed that there was, .more chance of a sett!emont.b?ing reached by informal discussion. An Extraordinary Dispute. The Commissioner: This dispute, from its inception, has been a most extras ordinary one. In fact, I don't know now- whether it can be called a dispute. I dou't know whether what I have heard if it in the press and elsewhere is correct or not,', but the' suggestion is that, while tho union has a'legal existence, it has no substantial existence whatever. I hear ;that a .'majority of those composing it. are opposed to this dispute going on, and'that, if a plebiscite of the employees wore; taken, the decision would be against it; It is true that we have been able to adjust things up to the present, but this dispute is different from anything which I have ever handled before. Here wo have three men on one side of the table, not one of whom is a storeman.

Mr. Westerby: Lain a storemau. That is my present occupation. The Commissioner said that the-Coun-cil would proceed in the. ■ ordinary way, but hc t.honght that, when the.case went to the Court the'union would find that their tifne- and money had 'been wasted, and that the Court would turn the whole thing down: In reply to a further question from Mr. Hall.v, Mr. Farlahd said that the union had 300 financial members, 250 of whom were storemen. Mr. Cooper cantonded that the fact that the union had been formed was sufficient proof that tho me'i had a grievance, and that there was not in tho history of the Labour movement in New Zealand a .single instance of a union, in its initial shies, representing all the employees iu the trade. Hundreds of the emplovces in this_business were not conversant with the ideas of the union, and were not accustomed to unionism at all. Many of 'them were frijhtened of tho scheme,'and some were honestly opposed to it. This was a new union, and the first of its kind to he formed in New Zealand. For all these difficulties he still thought that tho Council ought to be able to settle the wages payable aud the hours to be worked. The union had been formed at considerable expense,, and .it. had had to put up with a. lot of abuse. Under these circumstances the union could not now o.?ree to a suggestion that it should commit suicide.

Befire the Council went into commitfee, the Conimissioner asked whether anyone else wished to speak. Ninety. Per Cent. Against the Union. Mr. J. Keith,-of Messrs. E. W Mjl[ s and Co.'s staff, rose to speak, thanking the Commissioner. for the.opportnn.itv of planing before .flip' Council the objections of a number of employees' to the formation of the union.Mr. Cooper objected to Mr. Keith being heard, .but the Commissioner told him to resume his seat ■ ■ Mr. Farland then said: "I object to hearing- one worker taking sides a»ain«t his class." And he left the room, rl turuiqg,after Mr. Iveith had finisher] •• Mr. Keith, ill the course of his remark' stated that when, the proceeding were first takoa all employees. other HlOll part ers, had been cited. fie, ' -.vitli others then set- to work to ■ find' out the opinion of (heir. fel]o , v . employees in the 17 hardware firms in the city. which gave employment to some -ton men. A petition was submitted I* a!) the employees, with the result (hat. signed it. >inet,v per cent, nf the employees had therefore declared asainst disturbing the present relation®. " Mr. Simpson:. "Intimidation." Mr. iveith: ';t will como lo intimidntion presently. Continuing he that, of 50 storemen employed by these IT films, 30 had signed, the petition. There were representatives present from junior us well as senior employees, who were prepared to go on oath and sa.v that nothing in the nature of intimidation had been used to induce them lo sign Hie petition. ° Mr. Simpson:" I question (hat. Better as They Arc. . Mr. Keith: It is evident l.hat the gentleman would question anything I say, but these are facts. Mr. Keith went on to say that hardware assistants wished to be left alone—tliey thought that they wero better oil' as they were: At present they got. holidays'on full pay, and, when an''employee fell sick, his wages wero sent to him, sometimes lor months; A valuable concession was also granted to them-they cojild purchase goods at a I

very hn- i-ilf. |f ihc demands. as ft jfillli, were 11)-IM pi] on, llir-y u(in likely !•' lose .-ill tln:o thincs. Mr. H.'lllv |in rr . Mjggnslfll ) Ji;, I, ;Jr S remarks wci" MKll .'is might If, 1,0 mri'Jp In Hir \rliilr,-i(ififi 'Vnirt rather I ban i" thf ('our!li?»f ion Cnunr il. Mr. K'oith uryr-f] «ha 1. if iho «>n- Kr/iulr-d, (hr-fY. «YMilrj ho h«1 <i fi.u-cj liiK! of resitinn bvtwrpn 'iiiplovfr and rinployof, and t hr* mini mum wligo n '°"hJ Im-ioihc IJir» maximum. Tho u;j«f\s of iif)ividua] r-mfilriytr-. could ho amirablv wtlnl irlfimii. rrCOUTH' in thr* law. f.l'o n.-lfd jjj,. (.'miiicjl lo givo rari|f'?l, r-on-snl«Tiil.ion to llif prayer and pr-fitinn of 'JO pr-r t •/}>. ( ,f (},* lirtivhvaro fmpliyfo-s. Mr. Simp«r.n smilr-d. t "My frhud m.iy prin," faiij Mr. K>ith, "mil, undouMHly lip has prolilrr), like the rr-M, hy \h? noji(T?f»ions which J havo riK'tif imird." Mr. (.1. pTP«rnt.rd a petition From the in the fruit market against being included in the dispufo. The petition, ho >aid, was signed hv ovcryonn nnipfnyed J;hore, and the reason was that, all wore perfectly satisfied with thingy a» thf'v were. No Settlement.

The council sat fn commitioe all day, and the essential clauses of the demands linvinjj reference to storemon ivcro considered, notably those relating to wages, hours of work, prcfcrencc of ' employment, and classification. No agreement was arrived at on any of these clauses. The dispute now stands adjourned until Wednesday, November 2!), when the demands relating to warehousemen's assistants will be given consideration. If no settlement is.arrived at in that section ot the dispute, the wholo matter will be referred to the Court. The demands for wages ranged from ,£4 10s. for head storemen ta £3 ss. The employers' assessors refused to fix wages for different grades, and the only minimum they, would agree to was <£2 ss. per week. The union asked for a 44 hours' week, but the employers suggested that in those places covered by tho Shops and Offices Act the men should work the hours./52) provided for in that Act, and that in other places uot governed by any Act or award the hours should b's 48 per week. The employers refused to grant any measure ,of preference..' What the Commissioner Thinks, Caii you not give any relief by way of exemption to those, .warehousemen and storemen who afo opposed to this dispute going on? a representative of The Dominion a?l;ed Mr. HnUy after the proceedings. . ■ Mr.. Hally:' No, -the Act does not vest any- such-authority in a council of conciliation when an award js sought. If an industrial agreement ■ would' suffice, perhaps things would be different.' Do you think any' intimidation' was used 'to get. signatures . to ■ the counterpetitions? . Yes, to a degree. ■ The fact of- a head of a department taking round a petition would .be regarded as intimidation by many of the employees.Do you think it right that no matter how many persons may be employed in an industry fifteen persons should be able to form >i-union? No, I do not. The union sliould certainly contain a majority of the workers engaged ili the industry. It was stated at the meeting that 90 per cent, of the assistants in the establishments of the employers cited and TO per cent, of the storcuieu were against the union. Is that correct? I .cannot say. It was denied by the union's agent, who said that the union had 400 members, and that probably more than half'were storemen. I <lo not know the number of men there is in Wellington. In any case, so long as the Act remains as at present, , a council must inquire into the dispute.