STOREMEN’S DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 17, 14 October 1921, Page 5

STOREMEN’S DISPUTE

CASE FROM BLENHEIM REDUCTION IN WAGES SOUGHT BY EMPLOYERS The Arbitration Court held a short sitting yesterday morning, when the Blenheim wool, hide, and grain storemen's dispute was heard. His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer presided, and associated with him were Messrs. W. Scott (employers’ assessor) and M. J. Reardon (deputy workers’ representative). A partial settlement had been arrived at in the Conciliation Council, and tho only matters still in dispute were wages, tho annual holiday, and the shift clause. Tho union asked for £4 Ils. 6d. per week for permanent employees, 2s. lid. per hour for casual labour, and fourteen days* holiday per year to alb employees. Mr. H. Dyson, who* appeared for the anion, said that tho shift clause, which had been inserted at the instance of the employers, had been agreed to. The wages should bo placed on the same basis as in the recent award made in Wellington. Regarding the annual holiday, seven days had been granted in the Wellington award, and the Marlborough Union would not press for more than that. * Mr. J. W. Morgan, for the employers, said that ho was going to ask for a reduction in wages. The employers in this Industry were carrying heavy financial burdens owing to the decrease in the values of wool, hides, etc., and therefore the wages should be reduced. "Wool, one of the staple products, was lower today than it had been for a good many years before the war. Me quoted figures to show how skjns and hides had depreciated' in value in twelve months. The cost of living in Marlborough, he said, was considerably cheaper than in Wellington. Tho employers considered that the holidays should be at their discretion, but were agreeable to the iplause in. the Wellington award being included in the new agreement. They, however, were opposed to casual employees getting such a concession, as they received a higher rate of wages than permanent men. Mr. Dyson, in reply, said that Mr. Morgan had laid great stress on the cost of living in Marlborough as compared with Wellington. Ho declared that that did not affect the position, as the Court had laid it down that a different seals of wages could not be made on that basis. The president stated that the Court would 1 make its award in due course.