COACHWORKERS' AWARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2849, 14 August 1916, Page 9

COACHWORKERS' AWARD

SETTLEMENT REACHED

Mr. J. R. Triggs held a sitting of the Conciliation Council in Wellington on. Saturday, when the coacliworkers' dispute was settled. The agreement reached is to last for three years, and it is understood , that an effort is to be mado for the agreement to be adopted in other centres;

Tho wages of journeymen coachworkersh ave been increased from Is. 4kl. per hour to Is. 6d. per hour, and the hours of work decreased to 47 from 48 hours. Thero is no alteration in the wages of apprentices, but improvements have been effected in tho machinclauses. It is now provided that notice shall be given to the inspector of tho taking-on of an apprentice with the endorsement and consent of the parents or guardians of the apprentice.

. Mr. W. J. Couzens (Auckland), one of the employers' assessors, in referring to the fact that an agreement had been arrived at, said that the increase in wages would penalise some of the employers, but he hoped that it would be looked On in years to come as a model award for the whole of the Dominion. ■

Mr. G. Dash (Waimate), another of the assessors for the employers, stated that he was one of the men who would be penalised by the agreement. When the last increase to Is. 4Jd. an hour was granted by the Arbitration Court his men were working on the profitsharing and investment system, and had just received a bonus, while the employees who had money invested received a dividend. (Hear, hear.) In view of the fact that the Court had given a 10 per cent, bonus, the employees met together to discuss the position of those who had money invested and those who had not, and it was agreed that those who had invested their money were entitled to their money before the men who had no investment.

Mr. Couzens proposed a vote of thanks to the Commissioner for the manner in which he. had conducted proceedings. He had been associated with the Commissioners throughout the Dominion, and ho could truthfully say that lie had.never been concerned in a dispute that had been more amicab'y conducted than tho present one. Mr. A. Rosser (Auckland), the agent for the workers, seconded the motion, which was carried. .