PRINTING TRADE AWARD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 207, 17 September 1937, Page 9

PRINTING TRADE AWARD

— Press Aasociation.)

Workers "In No Hurry to End Hearing" LITTLE PROGRESS MADE

(By Telegraph-

.WELLINGTON, Last Niglit. "Evidently ttiis has been a stonewali this afternoon," said the Conciliatioii Gommissioner, Mr M. J. Eeardon, at tho hearing of the Dominion printing trades disputo to-day, -when, aftcr a long period of unproduetive argument, Mr C.' H. Chapman, M.P., stated that the workers' assessors did not wish to complete consideration of the machinery clauses, because they felt an agreement might prejudice them in their claims for wages, When the Council mct at II o'elock in the morning the ' Commissioner suggested .that his sehedule setting out the agreements made at tho provious days' hearing should be read and eonfirmed. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon this liad not been completed, and no progress had been made Trith other machinery clauses. The workers' assessors wished to go on and discuss wages, but the employers' assessors objected. "It. isn't possible to devote weeks to one organisation without doing an injustice to someone else," said the Commissioner when the workers' advocate, Mr K. Baxter, intimated his side was in no hurry to end the hearing. "If ' the workers want matters taken in hand and disposed of, they should be preparcd to give some assistance," he continued. Machinery clauses which had been in operation for years and which had been thrashed out repeatedly should be agreed to, unless it could be shown that they, were not working satisfactoriiy., Reference to Court. The w'orHtfrs' assessors indicated that they did not wish to reach an agreement on everything else and theu liave the wage clauses referred to the Court. Mr Chapman said they had prepared an amended scheduie of claims in view of the Court 's pTonouncement on the Standard wage. Whether it had been agreed at the previous sitting that cities and towus should, for the purposes of the award, be classified according to population, was a question raised at the opening of the meeting. The workers' assessors contended that no final agreement had been made. Mr Clarkson, employers' assessor, said that all concessions made by the employers had been made on the definite Tmderstanding that the classification would be retained. Mr H. C. Lord, workers' Msesssor, objected to a stipulation that the classification should be based on the "resideut" population. Mr Clarkson contended that the classification of any town should not be built up by temporary population, due to suc'ti causes * s holiday traffic or military canips. . Purther consideration of the clause was deferred. After luncheon, Mr Baxter sought to re-open the discussion on the following clause, which had been agreed to in the morning: "Workers in newspaper printing oflices, including composite ofiices, shall be required to work not more than eight hours on eaeh of six days of the week, provided that sucli workers shall not be required to do any jobbing work an fcaturakrfe or statutory holidays." Men "Up in Anus." *. Mr Baxter stated tbat in the mterval 'he had talked to men who were up in arms at .the possibility of jobbing workers being required to work on Saturday morning to set advertisements. Mr Chapman, who had presided in the morning, in tho absence of the Commissioner, cxpressed the opinion that tho discussion could be re-opened. "This is vcry disappointing," said Mr Clarkson. "We kave tried to make the clause watertight. I don't know whero we are going to get if we devote an hour to a clause and then re-open it." Mr Hardcastje gave an assurance that no more men than necessary would be brought baek on Saturdays, and that as far as possible the rota system wousi bc used, but no final decision was mado. Mr Chapman suggested that newspaper proprietors should agrce to recommend the addoption, Tjrhere possible, of the rota system for the purpose of establishing a five-day week in newspaper oflices. "It would be simply deluding you and decciving this Council if we suggested we could seriously consider such a proposal," said Mr BLardcastle. "It is not from laclc of sympathy with the desire of the workers for a five-day ,week that I say that, but because of its sheer physical impossibility. " Mr Chapman said he realised it might not be possible to extend the system to all workers, but he was convinced that it would be practicable ior linotype operators, compositors and ix>tary men. Mr Hardcastle referred to an office with a rotary press crew of six men. If it were possible te allow oue man ofi: each night, why were six men emploved at 2)resent? he askcd. He declared it would be a wasle of lime to discuss the matter lurthcr. After re.vicwing aud clarifying the points on which agreement had been reached, the Council adjoumed till 9 a.m. to-morrow.