LITTLE PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 14, 18 January 1933, Page 4

LITTLE PROGRESS

THE PLASTERERS' DISPUTE

PARTIES AT VARIANCE

With each sido accusing the other of not having shown a conciliatory spirit, tho hearing of the plasterers' dispute before the Conciliation. Commissioner (Mr. E. W. F. Gohns) was adjourned yesterday afternoon without perceptible progress being made toward agreement on the major points. Just before the adjournment tha employers' assessors retire" to reconsider their proposals, and a statement made by their advocate, Mr. \V. J. Mpuntjoy, on their return waa resented by the employees, who refused to consider what they described as a "take it or leave it" alternative. The assessors were as follows:—Employers, Messrs.. W. J. Mount joy (advocate), E. E. Kent, T. W. Lovatt, and T. F. Foley; employees, ■ Messrs. W. Broaaiey, C. G. Hall, B. Burton, and A. Barn. ■ Most of the day was spent in considering the proposals of the respective parties, but there- were few on which agreement was .reached., With regard to the'general provisions of : the proposed avyard, the employers suggested that one hour's notice of dismissal should be given, but later they withdrew the proposal. They suggested that men employed in fumigating, or work ordered by the Health authorities, and on steeples when working ■■. 30ft or. more above the eaves of buildings, on chimney stacks or. towers standing apart from buildings when working 40ft or more above the ground,,or in sowers, tunnels, or other -wet places should receive noteless than 2d.-)er hour:estra. i Under the olof award 4d extra was paid, and Mr. Broadley pointed out that a reduction, in. this allowance had followed.,a; reduction of about 25 per cent, in the ordinary wages. Mr. Foley made an alternative suggestion that the provision for chimneys and towers, should bs eliminated and the rate for the rest of the special work be 4d extra. EMPLOYERS' OFFER. When all the ;clauses had been discussed the employers retired to reconsider their proposals, and when they returned Mr. Mountjoy said that they were prepared to pay travelling expenses for .suburban :-work outside a radius of two miles and a half from the centre of the city, instead' of five miles. They would also wiithdaw their request to toe allowed to pay wages fortnightly;-Instead of weekly wien desired. They would accept tho Court's preference clause. • ■ ' "Wo hold hard and' fast to tho othor claims," he continued. "If the workers are prepared to accept them wo are prepared-to increase the rate of wages from Is 10* d. If you will not accept them, th© dispute as far as wo arc concerned is finished." N Mr. Broadley: Mr. Gohns, I appeal to you. We are met in a conciliatory court; you are tho Conciliation Commissioner. Aro you going to stand foi such treatment? Have we got to stand for it or have we any other steps to take? Mr. Burton: Mr. Mountjoy has come here with a certain object and without any conciliatory spirrj;. I. am surprise J that a man of Mr. Mountjoy's experience should have, the cheek and audacity to offer that to men who came here in a conciliatory manner. Mr.-Mountjoy pointed out that he was conveying to them the -r-.'.shes of the employers' assessors. Mr. Barn: You aro bringing us down below the watersido workers. "NOT VERY LIBERAL." Mr.' Gohns:' We~nave""gone" through the employers' claims, and the workers have raised-objections to which the employers.have' given consideration. They have'met them, I might say, not very liberally, and they have pointed out what they will consider. "To that extent the employers had .been-''con-ciliatory. It was a question of degree, but it was conciliatory. He suggested that the workers should retire and consider the employers' proposals. Mr. Burton: I object to;, the employers, holding a.pistol to my head and saying "take it or leave it." Mr. Broadley: I want to know, Mr. Mountjoy, whether .you want to work without an award.Mr. Mountjoy: You gentlemen have shown very little conciliatory,, spirit today. In the past you have held the big stick. Now the employers aro experiencing very bad times. The second largest union in the Dominion, the carpenters, have accepted the employers' conditions, which should be good enough for you. Your attitude has been practically impossible and you have given nothing away. " It was decided to adjourn the.sitting until to-day to enable the parties to consider the position. .