JEWELLERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1956, 13 January 1914, Page 8

JEWELLERS' DISPUTE.

AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. At a sitting of the, Conciliation Council at the Commissioners' Rooms, To Aro l'ost Office yesterday morning, the jewellers' dispute was satisfactorily settled. Mr. I'. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided, and Mr. E. Kennedy appeared for tho union, while the assessors for the employers wero Messrs. L. R. Partridge, J. M. Savidge, and N. I. Gooder. Messrs. J. P. Mainj 1. Gamble, and J. A. Pell were assessors for the union.

Mr. Kennedy stated that since tho union had been started three conferences had been held with the employers, and as • a result ho was very pleased to say they would only havo a very short sitting that day. ' Tho employers had met then in a very good spirit, and they had been able to como to an agreement. It was not vory often, continued Mr. Kennedy, that a trade union secretary was able to make such an announcement, and it gavo'him greater pleasure on this account.

Mr. Hally said that it was very satisfactory to hear that an agreement had been arrived at. He always encouraged employers and employees to meet unofficially. beforo stating a dispute for the Court, .because it was often the case that an agreement could be arrived at satisfactory to both parties. The union's secretary, Mr. Kennedy, generally managed to effect a settlement in tho disputes'in which he was concerned. They were really .setting a wage for tho whole of the Dominion, and as this was the first jewellery trade agreement in the Dominion he trusted it would prove satisfactory.

Tlio council then went into committee when one or two minor points in coivnoctidn with the, agreement were considered.

Tho new agreement provides for a week of forty-six and a. half hours, with a minimum wage of £3. Apprentices are to be paid from 7s. 6d. weok in the first year.to £1 los. in the fifth. Overtime is to be paid at the rate of time and a quarter for tho first two hours, time and a half thereafter, and double time' on holidays. Compulsory preference to unionists is provided for, with the usual provisions as to holidays, - apprentices, etc. The agreement is to remain in force for two years.