CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2430, 8 April 1915, Page 9

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

BRICKLAYERS' DISPUTE. A sitting of the -Conciliation Council was held yesterday to further consider the dispute between the . Bricklayers' Union and the employers. Mr. P. Hallv (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and the assessors were: Messrs. William Ferguson, W. H. Bennett, and A. Wilson (for the employers) and Messrs. M'Mahon, Skelton, and Geissler (for the union). Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell appeared a 6 agent for the employers, while Mr. H. Hanton acted as agent for tho union.

The' demands of the union, were for a week of 44 hours, with wages (for all journeymen) at the rate of Is. 9d. per hour. An increased rate of time and a quarter was asked for all hot, dirty, or wet work, double time for work to baiters' ovens, etc., and overtinio varying from the rate of time and a quarter to double time, according to the hours worked.

Mr. Hally explained that a partial recommendation had previously been made, but the Court had requested the assessors to reconsider the matters still in _ dispute in order that some other points might, if possible, be settled. The matters on which an agreement had not been reachcd were wages, the sections dealing with classes of work, the methods ot paying wages, country work, and the proposals of the employera in regard to apprentices. He inquired of Mr. Hanton as to what were the prospects of any of these points being agreed upon. Mr. Hanton 'considered that it was just a question as to whether the employers were prepared to meet them on the point of. wages. If so, he felt sure other points could be arranged. If on the other hand the employers were bound ou the wages question it did not seem that any further progress could, be made.

Mr: Grenfell asked whether, _in the event of the. employers conceding the wages asked for, the employees would accept the employers' proposals regarding. all the other conditions. Mr. Hanton replied in the negative, and in turn asked if tho employers wera prepared to agree to wages at the rate of Is. Bd. per hour. Mr. Grenfell indicated that the employers were not disposed to agree to as much at that stage. Mr. Hanton next wanted to know If the employors would agreo to the conditions adopted in Christchurcli. Mr. Bennett here remarked that the employers were not going to be bound bv anything done in Christchurcli, where the employers now recognised that they had been "slipped up." The discussion was continued in. committee.