PLASTERERS' DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 23369, 12 September 1939, Page 3

PLASTERERS' DISPUTE

NEW DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT LITTLE PROGRESS MADE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 11. The hearing of the application of the New Zealand Plasterers’ Industrial Association of Workers for a new- Dominion award was resumed in Conciliation Council in Wellington to-day, but little progress was made, the main clauses being referred to the Court of Arbitration. No agreement could be come to on the question of wages. The union asked for a minimum of 3s 3d an hour for journeymen plasterers, and the employers offered 2s IOJd an hour. Ihe waces, overtime, holiday, country work, and suburban work clauses were referred to the court. When the term of the award was being considered, Mr E. C. Weavers, agent for tho union, suggested that it should bo for 18 months. This was opposed by Mr J. 1 urtoll (Auckland), a workers’ representative, who said he had waited for a plasterers’ award in Auckland for 11 months, ami during that time the workers had each lost lls a week. Tho Commissioner (Mr M. J. lleardon) : That was your own fault. With short-term awards you absolutely swamped the Courts of Arbitration. The last Rook of Awards occupies three volumes, and the claim has hoen_ made that more work has been done in the last three years than daring the whole application of the I.C. and A. Act. It was agreed that the terra of tho award should be 12 months.

At the close of proceedings at 5.20 p.ni.. the Commissioner said it had been a disappointing day. He had expected that bettor progress would have been made.