MASTER BAKERS ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 64, 5 March 1908, Page 4

MASTER BAKERS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL COXFF.RF.XCF.. The Bakers' Conference returned yesterday morning. Mr. Kellow (presidentl occupying the chair. The whole of the delegate- pre-enl on the liist day altemle.l again, together with Messrs J. O. Lauieusou, E. A. Smith. H. H. S. White, and F. .1. Campbell (Uuiicdinl. and Mr. llaiii-un iCi-lmrnci. civic \vi:ixii.\ii:.

His Worship the Mayor. Mr. K. Dockriil, extended i.i the delegates a heariy welconie [u .\e,v I'lyuiouili. and Imp.-'d their stay « llU | ( i |,. j.iea-aiu and the deliberation- piolitablo and liemli.-ial l,i the coiniiiiiiiiiv. In conclusion, mi behalf of lh.' Lurgcs.es, | h . gave the five Use of tin.- t •nin.il room i.i the eouferenee.

.Mr. Kellow * president) brielly a.knowled the n.•koine, and thanked the -Mayor for the g.nei„us and kindly manner in which the delegate, had been treated.

I 111. IJM, -ls.il.Jn. -'"■ l*'.».»u , i.,.- scuuaiy reported iii.il ,ii ..aiigaiiui i,ie master uaKers iuu decided to ailopt a cash ,\stcm. Jlr. iiarii-uii jjiho ,i res U me OI u,,. introduction ut me e.ish syaeui in i'overty Bay. tie -aid tiie -v'slcm was working very salisiaclorily. -Mr. uhitelicad said the cash system had just been inaugurated at Palmers ton Aorih. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Lauicnson, it was decided to recommend uuiou 3 throughout Hie Dominion to adopt the cash system. Mr. AlcFarlanu, in supporting the motion, said the credit system had been a curse to the trade.

ilr. Budd supported the motion on behalf of the South Canterbury Union. In their district they had suffered as much as any district through the credit system.

Other delegates supported. The following amendment, proposed by Mr. Smerdou, fell through, there being no seconder: —"That this conference strongly recommends that the cash Bystem of telling bread be adopted as early as convenient to the various unions, and that coupons be issued to customers for cash in advance at ruling cash prices, twelve to the dozen in all cases except storekeepers, who shall be entitled to thirteen; the only exceptions to the above to be hospitals, asyiums, prisons, etc." PUKE FOOD BILL.

The Conference discussed the Pure Food Bjil, and decided that the executive should draw the attention of the Health Department to the fact that the regulations re moisture in bread are unworkable, and suggest that the test comprise both orunib and crust; and that they also approach him with regard to the exemption of different classes of bread.

OVKIUUIK. Air. ilcl'jrlau,! mo\cd that in the framing of ail I'uiurt- awards it In- -.poi:ilicd that ao overtime lie paid uutil tin; lull weeho. work o£ 51 hours lias been completed. Mr. .Suierdou s.,ij ih, Auckland Lnion were strongly in favor of the proposal. In all I'uinre awards it should be clearly borne in mind tliat a week's work should I*- finished befo-e overtime should lie jiaid. The Auckland bakers also sought in their new award a provision for payment for the actual hours worked. They al,o heid the view that holidays should not 6e paid for. Mr. Uudd asked if the executive co.ild frame :< model iward for the benefit ui the smaller unions. The motion was carried. IXIJF.KSrXUXi, AXU COXTISACTS.

The Auckland delegates asked if the Conference could give any suggestions with regard to the prevention of underselling. Could they prevail upon the flow-seller* to refuse to supplv pricecutters with Hour?

The pre-ident said that there could be no objection tn the merchants or millers supplying mider-sellers with flour mi long as they paid cash lor it. If a man could bur flour, pay for it with his own money, and lieat his opponents, iie was welcome to it.

Mr. Denhard said contracts led to under-selling, and these should be stooped, if only in the interests of the eootractors thcmsclve-.

Mr. H. White iDuneditu said lhat some baker- took contract- a< absolutely losing rates, u,. surpri-ed il.w member- oi the employer.. - and other associations should patronise iii,r;,.r-.ell-iug Inker*.

Mr. Denhard said that in Wangamii the bakers had given up contracts! Mr. Harrison (Oi'sborne) said the Gisborne bakers had taken a similar stand. and demanded cash from all but the shipping. He considered that no baker could come into Gisborne. under-sell and live.

-Mr. McParland reminded the delegates that the law provided for all supplies to hospitals, gaols, etc.. to be contracted for.

Mr. Dcnhard could uot -ee why shipping companies should Ik; able to Imy bread cheaper than the residents ashore. Ihesc companies got their own prie for everything. The president said the best way out of the difficulty would be for the master bakers to tender at lull price ani let the hospital or other igjtitution take its choice.

ilr. Budd -aid that in Xituaiu tli>« had been a rotten sv-tem of contract for one of the bakers had been subsided by one of the miller?. Then for a few year- the matter was arrange.!. One 0 f the bakers then "tut" to about 3-Jid per loaf, and supplied for the ye.ir at that price whilst the other bakers were getting 7Vid and Bd.

-Mr. I.ealaud quoted the case of a New Plymouth taker who had had a similarly unenviable experience, except that be had tendered at the then current price of bread, and flour rose in nri iMiWiraeotlr.

The president: That's onlv a fair buiine-? risk.

Mr. Harrison -aid that in fiisborne when tender, were invited, the secretary submitted the cash price and a list of the name* ol the -i.v bakers, each of whom had to get an equal -hare of the trade, Mr. Prait iChn-tehiireh) said tint Ohri-teliurch was the p|, lco (o ~„ f ,„. „ x . penenc- is underselling. Mr. !„„-».„«,„ -aid"thai ~„ „nd.Tfiling baker in |)„„o,ii„ | lil(1 ,„,,.„ lo )k ed upon alrno-t a- a -avi.,„r. for people had been able to «„. fhat he had )„..,„ unable t.. make ~„.], „ tat „„,,„,. ~ „ rei'iilar rate.

UCKNSIM; OF BAKERS' SHOP*. the secretary recited that the .Minister of Public Health, replying t0 ~ tation from the executive, had declimd to recouiiuciid the licensing of sho!>selling bread. The -ugge-tiuu of lieeiising came from the fact tliat bread w:i* supplied by baker- lor -ale at -ho is where condition- for its keeping we're not good.

Mr. Kiio\ -aid that the matter woald not liavc Ixreu brought liefore the cou-fen-nrc had the executive informed the alliliated unions of the result ot their interviews with the Minister.

Mr. H. Whit.. -,ii.l the iiif.irinatio.i had appeared in t|,,. |',,.~.

|''H;i;mj;.\. 'I he coUleivuce discussed tile advi-.i-bilily ol allowing the foreman to Ijc a member of a worker,' union. Mi. .Mcl'.ii-laud said no man cujJJ -ere- two ma-tci-. He cum U ot serve hi- employer and the union a- well. J'l hi- opinion the foreman represent -d the employer in the latter'- absence. Mr. Denlmd ..m-ideivd tlut foremen bakers »<>■•• underpaid. Any ujn-rutivi-taking a foreman's billet should immediately le-ign troin his union. Mr. White complained of the in,o„. si-tency of the member,. H, ; thought every journeyman should be a member of the union. The employer- just a few minute- liefore had been complaining that some liaker- did not belong lo their as-ociation. In his own ease tic foreman wa- president of the union.

Mr. MeParlan.l >aid that if the fo ■?■ man »erca prominent unioui-.L heuuihl not inform tin' employer when llic mm tame Lite, to k«-i|i in with tiio men. In; wonl.l .-w lliat they j;ot every minute of overtime to whieli thev were entitle,!.

Mr. biureii-oii agn-eil. He thought .\Fr. White «■«« not early enough at the Inkehoiw t.i <i'i> the effect of hi-, employment, of „ulv unioni-l!-. Mr. 5,,,..,,!,,!) ailvor-.ileil ,'ree.lom of action in th. - left inn of men. prefereliee l.i-iii_r „;!-,.„ i„ (],,. 1„.. t „,,„ wlieth»-r on;-'Mi-t or ron nnioni-r. T" e..,„p f | , ~,.,„ .» enter , „„!,.„. ,„■ ;,. «m>p--1 ho,. :.» leave ~,,.■. ~,,.re,l of tyranny. The y«»\ man. whether imioni-t or iinntinioiii-t. in-.-.| never '■,. i.'.le. He in..ve,l. •■Tint ill Ihe ivmniii". ..f awar.l- prefer.-,!..' I.e »iv.-ii t.. th. l.rM man. «li-tlier miiioii-t ... nnn-iinii.ni-t."

Vr Tjuren-on -.ii<! th- di-'-ii—inn ami tin- motion were riilieiilnu». nn-1 -lioivcl th- -leakne-- anil stnpiclitv of (lie trnnV The Laker- alre.nlv hail ill* ,-i„|,i ~, ,1,.,..-e their men. ami that ri»ht crnild never be taken away except *,»

Act of Parliament. The president said the prcfel'euce-to-unionists clause left the employers a free hand, for they could employ a nonunionist, if lie were a more suitable nrin than the unionist. Mo action taken.

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION'. The New Zealand Employers' Federation invited the Association to join the ranks of organised employers, urgin« that the employers must nicel the" a\nio»t perfect organisation of the workers.

The president said the linker.,' Union had little I.i learn from'lhe Federalio.i He llallere.l himself thai the bakers knew I heir business better than the Federation could teach it. ]| ( . wi< however, a member of the Employers' Association.

Mr. Uurenson thought it w.mhl lie to the advantage of the bakers in provincial towns that they should j their local blanche, of the Employers' I'cdciation, or else have their unions represented on the larger hod v. -Mr. Mel'arhunl, after'paving a lib bote to the ability of Mr.' I'rVor. ihe secretary of the Employer,' Federation, advised all provincial unions to join lae Employers' Association. The suggestion of Messrs. Uauroiisnii and McParland. that provincial unions lie recommended to join the Federation, was adopted. PRICE (IF HRKAi). -Mr. Jl, White tUuucilini moved that the sliding scale be revised. Tim present scale was nol ipiiie s.uisiaclory. Mr. itudd said tile opinion of the South Canterbury Union was that tiie bakers should never contemplate selling bread at less than sixpence per fourpound loaf. The days of Hour at .10 a ion would never return again. The president said the bakers did not wish to exploit the public, but to arrive at a scale that would be fair both to the bakers and to the public. ill'. Smerdou advocated the adoption of the basis of a lour-pouud loaf, with a rise of a halfpenny on the footpound loaf. Jn Auckland and other northern towns the two-pound loaf was the basis. Was there not some dilliculty in bookkeeping when the customer took a two-pound loaf with bread at T'/id per four-pound loaf'/ iMr. White said it entailed a Utile extra trouble in accountancy, but the public convenience had to be 'considered. ilr. Budd stated that the bakers had lieen twitted with taking more thin they were entitled to. A rise of £1- a ton had been met by a rise of a halfpenny a loaf, and that had brought £1 8s to the baker. He now submitted a scale based on increases of £1 5s per ton of Hour, as follows:—With Hour at £8 per ton, bread 6d per four-pound loaf; at £9 OS per ton, li'/.d; at £lll 10s a ton, 7d; at £ll 15s a ton, 7 1 /.'- at £l3 a ton, Rd.

This was adopted. Mr. Laurenson desired the Press to note that the alteration would make no alteration at present in tin. price „f bread.

ELECTION' OF OFFICERS. . Officers were re-elected as follow*: President. Mr. W. 11. Kellow IWellington); vice-president, Mr. .1. (i. Laurenson (Duneilin); treasurer. Mr. MeParland (Wellington): nudilors. Messrs. Denhard and I^aiifrdon: executiv. Messrs. Kellow. Denhard. Mcl.uland. and Lingdon: trustees. Messrs. ])cnhard and Langdon.

NEXT COXEEIIF.XCK. I'pon .Mr. White inuring thai the next conference he held at Chrislclmrcli. the Christehureh delegates said they were afraid that the local union wis too weak ami disorganised to manage it.

It was decided to nlTer i.'liristclnirch the, honor of entertaining the conference, and in the event of their mil incepting in three months, the conference will meet at, l'almerston Xorth. THANKS.

The conference also placed on recorl its appreciation of the excellent treatment received at the hands of the Flour Millers' Association and .Mr. Xcwton King, in conjunction with the directors of the Northern, Roller Mills. A hearty vote of thaiiKs « a , accorded to the Tnranaki Master ItakciV A.soi-ia-tioii for their excellent reeeption and entertainment of the delegates; several speakers- making most complimentary Ki'erenee concerning the arrangements. The ]iresident moved a lieartr vote of 'thanks to the Mayor and ' Council for placing 'the Council Cha'.nl.er at the disposal' of I lie conference. Similar compliments were tendered to the chairman, the sec-relarv. and !o tlie Press.