FURNITURE TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1924, Page 4

FURNITURE TRADE.

NEW AWARD CONSIDERED

AVELLINGTON, April 15

A lieu - award to cover the furniture trade throughout the Dominion was the subject of deliberations at the Conciliation Council to-day. The employers’ claims were for a 47-hour week, the minimum, wage to journeymen, cabinet-makers, upholster. ers, chair and frame makers, machinists, wood carvers, turners and polishers to be 2s ljd an hour; for picture frame, wire mattress and bedding makers 2.s 01d an hour; for labourers on unskilled work not less than Is Bjd an hour.

Tim workers claimed a 40-hour v,uk. wages £0 weekly for journeymen and £5 for timber stackers and furnit.irc workers.

They also claimed that no ove.-Lb.ie should lie worked while unionists were out cf employment but where overtime was worked double rates should be paid. The employers offered from time and a quarter to double time, according to the number of hours worked.

The period of apprenticeship was agreed to, but the wages claimed by 11:.' union was £1 for the first year, £1 Ids for the second, £2 for the third, £2 15s for the fourth and £4 for the fiftn.

The employers offered 15s, £1 7s, £1 lG.s and £2 8s 0:1 respectively. In the case of .-picture frame makers and wire mattress bedding makers the term of apprenticeship it was asked should lie three years and the rates for the first year 15s per week, second £1 ss, third £1 17s Gd, fourth improvers rates and thereafter the minimum wage.

It was suggested that the award should operate for three years throughout Northern Taranaki, 'Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, Westland, Otago and Southland industrial districts.

IT!- IV. Newton, Conciliation Commissioner, presided and the assessors were: Employers. Messrs A. E. Belli Mger (Christchurch), ' E. Campbell (Wellington), P. AV. IT. Cooker (Auckland), A. Alenzios (Auckland), with Mr 1.. A. Hammond as agent. The union’s representatives were D. 11. Kennedy (Wellington), C. Proven (Invercargill), C. B. Davies (Dunedin). W. .1. Jordan. (Nelson), A. 11. Dixon (Auckland) and A. H. Scales (Christchurch). with Mr A. L. Monteith as agent.

The employers strongly protested against the establishment of a fived?iv week which they said would have an injuries affect on the industry and was hut the thin edge of the wedge.

This matter will go heloro flic Arb: t rat ion Court.

Mr Monteith, for the union, said the men did not believe they should bo coerced into working a 44-liour wee k. Mr Hammond: Oh, well, we will have to refer the matter of hours to the Court, and we will press for a 47-hour week. AVo want to be perfectly plain and say that the employers are absolutely opposed to a five-day week and intend to fight against it. Air Hammond went on to say that the employers were also irrevocably opposed to the weekly wage. They wou.d insist upon an hourly wage. Mr Monteith: Then we understand oath other. There is no compromise on either loans or wages, and the otdv thing left to discuss is eondilions.