CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 106, 1 June 1909, Page 4

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

Tie Conciliation Council concluded its New Plymouth business sittings yesterday afternoon. Mr. T. Harle Giles, Commissioner, presided, and the sis. assessors were in, attendance, three for the employers and three for the employees The Court sat to continue the hearing of the dispute between the Auckland, Slaughtermen's Union, (Wartarabraneh) and the Waitara and Patea Freezing Works. The hearing 'had been adjourned o» Friday to allow of a further attempt (being'made to arrive at an agreement without referring the ntittc-r to the Arbitration Court, as had oeen decided fr» conference between the parties at Waitara last Wednesday. At that conference the parties agreed in ctaus B 1 fhat slaughtermen, should work for hours a day, V.wcen 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., tlbe employers having the right to call upon the men to start at such earlier hour as tie ex.geneies of business might- require, remuneration for which work; was fci i, By ciacye 2' tflie mmimuim rate ai i\ for pfyee-'workere 'was teed as fciows:— Freezing steep and lambs, £1 3s per hundred; leg-of-nrotton sheep, £1 per bundled; for potters, 18s; rams, other than ram lambs, 4d each; calves, la each, and pigs Is each; no decision arrived nt in reference.to rouble. Clause 3 sets out what was) included in the term "killing." Clause 4, "No shvugßtennen shall be ,;x----peoted to buy any carcase he may by accident damage, and no fines shall be allowed," was nob agreed to by the employers. By clause 4 slaughtermen wafting for work for more than 15 minutes *by default of the employer were to be paid 2a an hour wtole so waiting; clause 6 provided for "smoke-oth"; and clause 7 set out that tools were (to be provided by iJhe slaughtermen and not by the employers. CJausfe 8 referred to the management of the mutton pens; clauses. 9 and 10 to the wages for workera other 'than piece-workers, and for probationers. Clause 11 provided for payment a* time-and-a-quarter rates for overtime, with, double time on, Sundays, Chrwtnwft Day and Good Friday, and time-wndi-half for Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Prince of Wales' Birthday, the Sovereign's Birth-

day, and Waitjtra regatta, day in Waitan, some otter day in Pa tea. Clause ,12 Telated to payment of wages, and clause 13 set'out: "The employers shall have ah© fullest right (subject to the special provisions of this award) to make such rules 'for the necessary and proper management of their respective workers as they may deem expedient." Clauses) 14, 15 and 16 Mere minor provisions, and clause 17 established the

right of any" worker to accept a lower / wage if Hie considers himself incapable of earning-the minimum wage fixed by the award, under proper conditions. Clause 18 provides for preference to unionists, the Waitara- works being ex,empt frorofhe operation of this clause in .respect of men engaged for loading, gut hands, Twys and youths. Clause 19 .provides for the settlement of any matters in dispute. "Hie final clause bound all /freezing works established or to .be established in the Taranaki industrial district for a period of two years. Whilst the reading of these recommendations 'was in progress, ait clause 19, Mr. Bust, an agent for th e Slaughtermen's Union, said that on behalf of bis' Union he .wished the Patea. Freezing . Works Company to be withdrawn from the citation. There seemed that the Patea. and WaJtara companies had vct.v .little Jn common with each other, and were desirous of working each, under is own award or conditions. The Union agreed that so long as matters continued as at present the workers in Patea had no complaint, and there was nothing to gain by atitaclirng them to this award. In the event of the conditions altering it would be competent for the men to move in .the matter. In answer !to Mr. Grosvenor, the employers' representative, Mr. Bust said the Union was perfectly satisfied with the conditions ruling at Patea, and he was making -bis application at the request of a special meeting of the local branch of the Union. . Mr, Grosvenor drew Mr. Bust's attention .to the fact tlliat Patea slaughtermen received 2s a head' for freezing rattle, and Is 6d a ihead for canners" condemners or potters; that the slaughtermen, were salting .the. hi'des, and were ho!»tini| cattle by means of an old primitive wiwh. He understood Mr. Bust to say that those were just and equitable, conditions*

Mr Bast said he was not saying that. But there was no desJre on the part of the Patea. workers to have an award. The Commissioner said it was evident that Mr. Bust was) absolutely and perfectly satisfied with 'the conditions prevailing at Patea, and there was no intention to join the Patea works to any depute so long,as .present conditions continued.

Mr. Grosvenor acquiesced in, the application, and the Patea Freezing Works Company, Limite.l. was tOicn struck out of the list of parties cited. Thus the Patea Company, and the £ew Plymouth, Stratford and Hawera Borough Councils had been struck ofT and only th c Waitara freezing works remained.

Thc Tecommended award was then altered so as to bind all the Taranaki freezing works other than those at Patea.

Mr. Grosvenor t'hen placed before the Council a copy of a tetter sent ,br him, for the employers, to Mr. Bust on Friday, making a final offer of settlement, we terms including the regulation of jtaugKtermett's assistants, a rate of 2s for freezers and Is 6d a liead for winners, etc., and that ithc penalty dame for damage to hides, skins and carcases as modified in the Conference, be accepted l>y the Union. . That letter had been sutoittcd to tllie Union, and the terms declined, the men holding out for is » head for all cattle. On Saturday an attempt was made to effect a settlement at Waitara, but without result. Then the employers submitted an ultimatum, suggesting kiilling ratpe of 2s and la ed, under conditions that fee betf slaughtermen take delivery ,„, the to the pitting pen' SISJ?] 1 9nd dress - none lmt competent be engaged at this won. Mr. Grosvenor was very sorry to say that that offer hid alsoV n ' d ° clrned. Now the worker* had refftsed although .ft „, fa ir a „ d and practically what 'had teen nsked Tie only difference was that the e ,t tew, and desired a reasonable dame for feprmirtioa of damage to hides and skte. He-urged the assessors to <i"" !w themselves from the par t they were representing., and to come to a decision, on the merits of the case Onheryise the assess m cone lht?o„' court, would fe ,useles" iTToZ doubtless soon cease to exist Mr. Bust admitted that there was a S aa . dre98 ' and he . too, urged the Mstesor* to do what thev believed lJE fa,r Wmme.it he would resen-e for the Arbitration The Commissioner pointed out that aMSB ftom tihe te that wlHlit -the assessors on the one side on ifc! *2!! ttW *.f 0 Settle ' «*» Vrit* <L*\ Tr vne "naaiuainted 4,'f '<<*? l oondiUons. The sooner the tot provided for all assessor, to he „~ oca% engaged in the trade affected the better it would be Mr. Bust said tlat'had ahvav s been refer^" 0 ?, The s").nmfe a i„„-e r ~, ™ fa" d J?" *»»sHA*fy Jn endeavoring to settle the dispute. He Hwu-ht

the na-esLiOrs should be able to see the reasonableness- of the employers' offer., and, if it rested with' them—as it should rest with them—to decide, they would accept tilie ultimatum. He would not like to see them weakened, but prepared to accept responsibility and decide apart Altogether from outside influence or interference. The assessors could not agree, although they held a private korero for some minutes, the workers' assessors stating that though they were personally in favor of accepting the ultimatum they felt that they :were tied and could not go against theft: mates. The recommendations were Mien signed by the assessors, and two clauses referred to the Anbitration Court. Mr. Bust thought the Council should suggest- .that the Arbitration Court in Auckland settle this matter, but the Commissioner said that 'was beyond Ibis province, and .the case would have to be heard .here where the dispute arose. After paying compliments to the Mayor and Borough Council for. the use of the Council Chamber and the local Press for .their correct and faithful reports of t'he proceedings, the Court rose.