BUTCHERS' DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 5

BUTCHERS' DEMANDS

BEFORE CONCILIATION COUNCIL HOURS AND WAGES NOT CONCEDED A sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday further considered the demands of tho Wellington Operative Butchers' Union for improved' wages and conditions of work. The Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) presided. The assessors wore: For tho applicant union, Messrs. 11. Breon. A. Needhom, and J. Eobertson: for tho master butchers, Messrs. AV. Alovlan. A. Cheesenuin, and E. Barber. At a sittinc; held more than a week before the parties had failed to reach an agreement upon any point of importance. Tho Commissioner said that sinco tho previous sitting he had visited Piiluicrston North. Napier, Hawke's Bay, and the Wairarapa, in connection with tho butchers' oisputo in the country district. Aereeracnts had been reached in each centre, and Wellington city was the only Dart of tho industrial district in which a settlement had not been secured. Mr. Barber said that the attitude of the emnlovers on the question of hours had not undergoni l any modification. (Tho employers hntf asked that their hours bo subject to no other restriction than that prescribed by the Shops and Offices Act.) Mv. Breen argued in favour of fixed opening and closing hours. New Zealand workers generally, he said, wero keener about ths regulation of houre than about any other part of aii award. Ho could see no special circumstances to justify the Wellington master butchers iu refusing to grant fixed hours. The nueslion of hours was temporarily sot. aside for that of wages. Mr. Breen quo tea' the rates granted in the countrv district. Mr. Barber contended that the master butchers of Wellington had handicaps to contend with that did not operate in the country. Tho Commissioner: "It seems, to mo that, a worker in Wellington city is entitled to as hijrh' a rate as is being paid in the .Wellington country district." It was a aiiostion whether living diti not cost tlio citv-dweller more than tho man in the country. Mr. Brecn: "The only increase that has been' 'granted in Wellington sinco 1912 is is. per ■ week to the general hands." He did not see any reason for which the employers, if they could not nav adequate wages by any other means, should not slightly increase the retail price of meat. Mr. linrber said thai it was the policy of the butchers not to vary the price of flieir commodities frequently in the way that vendors of certain other commooitifis did. ITe was not prepared to go bevond an offer of £3 15s. per week for ssnnral hands, and he insisted that tho hours ehould bo regulated only by the Sho»s and Offices Act. Mr. Ncedham: "That offer is woree than the Anckiano' one." Tlio Commissioner (to Mr. Barber): What wnjes do you suggest for other hands P . Mr. Barber: First shopman, first smalleoods man. £i 10s.; second shopman, Jtji 2e. fid. ■ Mr. Needham: This is only the offer, of one firm, Mr. Commissioner, not of the employers Mr. Chee.iemnn agreed with Mr. Barber that, the rates mentioned should not bo exceeded. Mr. Moylau considered that the Hawke's Bay rates were reasonable. (In Hawke's' Bay the following rates were aureed on: First shopman, £1 Jss.; second shoaman, M 7s. Gd.; first small coods. M 12s. fid.; all others, £3 17s. fid.) Mr. Nepdham said that the union wonld not accent Mr. Barber's offer of .£3 l">s. for general hands. As further progress was impossible, it was opcided to refer tho matter of hours and waives to the Court for settlement. At the afternoon sitting, several matters were aennA on. It was decided Hint a worker should be entitled, upon completion of each yea; , of service, either to a week's holiday on full pay or tn a week's wages in lieu of the holiday. The waces of boys and youths, it was agreed, should be as follow:—.£1 7s. Gd. for voutlis of 17 years; .£1 12s. Gd. for youths of 17 to 18: £2 2s.:Gtl. for youths of 18 to 19: M 15s. for youths of 19 to 21. In future, progressive increases in wages will lie in-anted, to youths who undergo in technical colleges stipulated periods of instruction in the trade. The holidays fonnprlv observed during the year will continue to be observed. It is stipulation' that no worker shall be employed after 12.30 n.m. on the day of the weeklv half-holiday, irrespective of the provision of section 19, of the Shops and Offices Act. In any week in which two con«ccutivo holidays occur, tho weekly half-holidav need not be observed. The formation of ii disputes committee for tho trade is provided for. Tho men's clnini" for a.laimory allowance and their "placo of engagement" clause lire among the matters to be roferred to the Court. Proceedings ended with a vole of thanks to the Commissioner for his conduct of the dispute.