BREWERS & BOTTLERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2181, 20 June 1914, Page 17

BREWERS & BOTTLERS

mBM DISPUTE

CONCILIATION COUNCIL GfiSE. The Conciliation Council held a sitting yesterday morning to consider the Wellington Brewers' and Holders' dispute, 'flic Commissioner (Mr. V. Haiiy) presided, the assessors lor the union being MeSsi's, A. M'lnlyr-e, li. Lauder, and W. Duncan, and for ths employers Messrs. V. B. l'hipsaii. T, Madden,'and T. B. Driseo-IL ' -; What Was Asked. Tlio men, in their original demands, sought a general all-rmiud. increase of os. per week and the shortening of the weekly hours of work to 44. The. employers, in their counter proposals, insisted that the hours .of work in h-tew-cries and bottling store-s should be in accordance with the provisions' of tile Factories Act; also that the hows-of work at present observed iii the tnalthouses of Messrs. j. Staples aftd Co., Ltd., and tho estate of 'IV G. Mactsrthy should be continued. The employer's further staked that the itward shiukl not apply io foremen oar-managers. Why No PWvate Gofifererieetf Mr. Kennedy, in e-pciiiiig tho case for the- union, said; that lie was sorry that the employers had refused, to meet the workers in private coaferettco. lie did not know why it ssis, but it appeared now to be the attitude of the employers, in all disputes, til refuse to meet ths workers iii eoirfcrencc. They bad to be brought along at tlio point of the bayonet before they would talk about the existing conditions in ike industries. Mr. Grenfejl: It js because of theeverlasting filing of disputes. Mr. Kennedy: ''Until tlio workers get some sort of co-lid it-ions favourable to thorn, industrial tlispfttos will go on." The speaker wont on to say that notwithstanding that there, had .been no private conforeDee, he felt satisfied that, with the assistant erf the Co.ni' missiouer, a settteroeat would be arrived at. Mr. Madden said that tha first intimation which Staples and Co. had received from tlio union about this dispute was a twelve hours' nftfa? to attend a conference.. The bout at- which the proposed oonferenee was. to take placed had not even been .mentioned. The company bad replied suggesting that the conference should bo held in a month's time. Thef union had: had' tmie in which to discuss tSie demands, and I it was only fair 'that'-the employers j should have time Also. [ Mr. Kennedy said thai lie. had been informed by the secretary, erf the union that Staples and Co. had received, afortnight's iwtio«.' This was the firsttime that the® had been any ■ attempt to fix tho hours iti tho Trade. Without hurting the industry in .the slight-; est, he thought that, the claims could be conceded. Even if the- demands .were agreed to en bloc, the industry would not bo put out-of existence. He saw no reason why the work should ■ not' be so ar.raitgwl as to provide for 4-1 hours as m otter iwhistries. Mr. Grcnfell: Bo fair. .Tim hvu-Ulmp; industry is the only ftjie which has a--44-hour week. It is not-so hi regard to factories. ' Dialogue Grows ft'nlniate& Mr. Kennedy, coiitiuuing, said tire .aerated water and cordial piau-iifac-tnrers had been struck out nV'th) dis-; putc..-.-A minimum wage? of £2 15s, in,breweries'and Matl-hotts-os was not snij : excessive' claim. Indeed, to him, if ; seemed too lor/lent. i'Vr rtii in<J«t>try : like'-' brewing fivkich was a monopoly in this country) t#turn ; r-nmid'-nml my:. "Wo will offer eur. workers £2 ss. and :C2 10s. a week" would nialso a splendid text for'a-man advocftthig Prohibition. lie could mako ttse of it in tlio high' ways and by-ways of i\n\ land, ami win ■ on it.' Mr. Madden: Are yon discussing Prohibition or this question? Mr. Kennedy; "J am discussing this dispute. The coiwlitirons of payment and employment offered are ridiculous for such an iwhvstry." Continuing;, Mr. Kennedy ssM that the diiifctdty about preference could he got wver. Mr. Grcnfell: IVefsu'enea is. Merer accepted, except • practically under compulsion. Mr. Kennedy retorted that, in the case of tho seamen's and iVAtcrsida workers' disputes, the employers, had forced preference on the workers. A Sporting GfJsr. Mr. Greni'ell said.that, ns a .sporting ( offer, he would agree to the average j conditions obtaining wider, tlio awards | in tho other Hire-.?'centres. • ! Mr. Kennedy replied that he would ' he prepared to accept that: only (ho pointed out) conditions in those other centres'had been fjxsd for- three- years, and wero about to- expire,. ■ Mr. Greufell rcglbd that the Otngoa.ward expired ifl- ISTS, Auckland in 1916, and Christclmrch in 1915. Addressing the Contteissio-Biri-i Mr. Greufell stated that, 'in the otW er-nti-M, t-K? employers had taken the iiniattott. Ue. did not think that anything more could be expected than tho tortus which the Wellington empfeyen; had offered. Tlio various centres of the Dominion wero in competition, and it would be unfair to the local employers to force them to pay a higher rate than was aaid by their comoct.itflrs w IV tntd*. The employers had considered the matter in a fair spirit, njid ba<! iu;>d;» thi-ir proposals on tho I'mic? of existing awards. If that (lid iwt satisfy the workers there was only one thing for it. i' What Was flc-ftj. The Commissioner' and assessors then went into coAimiUer to cojisJcJm tln» disputo. Messrs. Grei-iW! attd KenKcdy withdrawing. It is understood, thfl.t rt provisional agreement was nrrw'ed at between t'se parties on all points except wages. It was- then decided to adju'.-jrw, ■ no elate for a further sittiwj- being ftstrl. It was stated, after tho BirPrifig.ltad ecmeluded, that during the eofltmittw proceedings the employers ottered a higher rate of wages than is paid elsewhere iii the Dominion.