CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3172, 24 August 1917, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

SHEARERS' AND SHED HANDS' DISPUTE AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT The Conciliation Council yesterday considered tho shearers' and sited hands' dispute. Tho Conciliation Commissioner, j\Jr. W. 11. Jlagger, presided. Air. (..'. (irayndler appeared as agent for the union, and Messrs. Si. C. Jack and I'. 11. Labatt as agents for tho employers. The assessors wore: for the union, Messrs. J. Townscnd, A. .1. King, and It. Eddy; for 'the employers, AV. U. ShcrraU, A. D. Acland, and H. Morrison.

Wages were lirst considered. Tho employers offered .£1 and a war bonus uf Vs. Gd. per hundred to shearers, but the union asked for the straight-out rate of 275. Gd. per hundred. 'Mr. Urayndler said that if the employers insisted upon a bonus instead of a Hat rate, there was no possibility of an agreement. Moreover, unless the employers were prepared to concudo considerably uioro • than they had offered to shed bunds, a settlement, would not bo reached. The. Commissioner suggested that the employers bo permitted lo confer privately upon the union's refusal to accept a bonus. Before the conference., Mr. (irayndler informed tho employers that the union did not intend the Arbitration Court to hear the case if there was any possibility of preventing it. He wished to •assure tho employcrs-that. there was. not much chance of the Arbitration Court dealing with, the disputo in tiuio lor tho shearing this .year. ' Mr.' Jack reported later that, the employers were prepared, upon certain conditions, lo increase tho iltyt rate. Tho conditions were that while the flat rate was increased, the balance should be paid as a .war bonus; and flint the union agreed to all tho other conditions in tho old award. Mr. Gruyndler replied that tho union, though opposed to the bonus system, 'would consider tho offer by of a*, tempting to compromise. Mr. King said that it was most unfair of tlio employers to suggest that tho old conditions should bo accepted holus-bolus. The conditions should be discussed. Mr. Jack gavo details of the employers' offer. In regard to shearers, the assessors were willing to offer an increaso in tho flat rate of 2s. 6d., and a war bonus of ss. For pressors, shed hands, cooks, and assistant cooks, tin increase of fe. per week, with a war bonus of 10s., was offered. TTte. shearers' assessors, after considering the employers' offer, intimated that an. agreement could b© arrived at. if the employers would consent to pay the following wages:—To pressers and rollers, .£2 ss. plus a bonus of 10s.; to other shed hands, £2 phi's a bonus of 10s.; 'to cooks, a minimum of £3, plus a. bonus of 10s. If the employers adopted the proposed rates, tho union would agree, to accept the other conditions in the did award. Tho employers offered .£2 2s. 6d. with a bonus of 10s., to pressors and rollers, and ngrced to tho other rates suggested. Assistnnt cooks would come under the heading of "other sbed bands," and would so rcceivo £i, witli a 10s. bonus. Tho union accepted this iiml offer. It was agreed that (he award should come into force immediately, and operate till February 28, 1019. THE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT A WAR BONUS. Mr. F. H. Labatt, president of tho Now Zealand Sheopowners' Association, informed a Dominion reporter last night that tho following terms had been accepted by tho parties to tho shearers' dispute, which was discussed* before the Conciliation Council yesterday:— Shearers, 225. 6d. per hundred, with ss. per hundred war bonus. Pressers and wool-rollers, .£2 2s. 6(1. petweek, with 10s. per week war bonus, or Is. 3d. per iour, and M. per hour wan bonus. All other shed hands, £2 per week and 10s. per week war bonus, or Is. 2d. per hour and 3d. per hour war bonus. Cooks, £'i per week and 10s. per week war bonus. Assistant cooks, £2 per week and 10s. per week war bonus. It was-agreed that the proposals, of the award should be mado to cover two seasons, and to expire ou February 28, 1919. All the conditions of tho old were embodied in the new agreement. A resolution v?as adopted by tho parties suggesting that this agreement should he adopted by the Arbitration Court as a Dominion award.