WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS' EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 61, 6 December 1920, Page 9

WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS' EMPLOYEES

INCEEASED WAGES ASKED. In tlie Arbitration Court on Saturday the Wellington Wholesale Merchants'.Employees' Union (druggist section), applied tor the fixing of hours and wages clauses, thna completing an award that was partially agreed to by i a Council of Conciliation. His Honour Air. Justice Stringer presided. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell appeared for the employers, and Mr. A. L. llnntoith for the union. Mr.-Monteith stated briefly the reasons toy the union's claim, and said that tho membors were quite prepared to accept tho rates of wages ofTeral if the employers would agree to the classification schedule, the special point to be decided beinß the classification of juniors. Otherwise tho union was satisfied. . Mr. Grenfell intimatfd that the employers would on no consideration ugreo to the point referred to. Mr. Jlonteith said that the members of-tho druggist section of the union had to dispense drugs, and, in a manner, had to do, professional work. In the course of a five years' apprenticeship they had to study and pay high fees. "At the present timo." added Mr. Jlonteith, "the wages paid .ire lower than 'those paid to 6on'ie labourers." He believed the firms cited—threo wholesale drug houses—could well afford to pay tho higher rates aslc- ■ ed.' In the fixing of a scale, of wages for the junior men it was ashed that tho sum should bo at least enough for tho sustenanco of a man who entered the trade at, say, 23 years of age. "At the present time," said Air. Monteith, 'ono of the houses cited pays adequate wages, but tho other two do not. ■ Wo ask for £1 10s. a week during the first year of service, £2 2s. fid. for the second, £'2 l!ii. for tho third, £3 10s. for the fourth. £1 for the. fifth, and thereafter £6 10». At this stage there was some dispute as to tho exclusion, rightly or wrongly, of several firms tthat handled such goods as Epsom salts and' other patent medicines, hut Jli. Monteith contended that. the businesses cited dealt with many specialist. Hues!, "Very well, then," said Mr. Grenfell. "there is, I contend, only one manufacturing druggist house in Wellington. I lie majority of fhe men included m .tho award aro not dispensers or druggists. Tho dispute should not be contained. Evidence that his firm did not dispense medicines was given by Walter 3?. Lnrkin, manager for Sharland and Co., wholesale druggists.' Most of the goods sold by his firm, he- said, were manufactured at tfie Auckland factory, and were then *ent to- Wellington, and When special orders requ red attention a qualified chemist was "put on the job." He did not think There was anv need for men employed in he firm's wholesale house to pass an xamination. He admitted however tha two employees were studying at the pre eent moment. . The Court reserved its decision.