THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 187, 11 September 1909, Page 1

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

THE TARANAKI DISPUTE. AN AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. After a conference lasting until llu early hours of Thursday morning a mutual agreement (the lext of wliicu lollows hereunder) was .urivud between , the ropisentativcs of the employers and the workers engaged in tlie Xarana'a dairying industry (says the Stratford Post). The conference then resumed as a Conciliation Council, and the agr?-.>-ment arrived at was duly ratified by ihe assessors for hoth sides. Prior to the close of proceedings, Mr. Richard Dingle, chairman of directo s of the Stratford Daily company, move., a very hearty vote of thanks to the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. X. Hade -iiles, for the able way in . which he had presided over the discussion of the Jispute, and expressed himself as having jecn greatly astonished at the grasp Mr. Giles had of all the details connected with the industry. In visiting the vari ous factories the Commissioner had Spared no effort to make himself acquainted with the conditions prevailing, and li> (Mr. Dingle) had no hesitation in saying that Mr. Harle Giles would leave Taranaki possessing the confidence of both employers and employed in th onerous position which he so creditaWy filled. If any proof were needed of the fitness of the Commissioner for his position, it was certainly to be found in the successful issue that had been brought about in relation to the dispute that had seemed fraught witn untold difficulties,

Mr. D. A. McMillan, president of the Workers' Union, endorsed all that had been said by the previous speaker, and. on belialf of his Union, desired to tender to the Commissioner his heart-felt thanks for his patient and untiring efforts, which had' brought about so successful a result. Messrs. A. Morton, chairman of directors of the Mangorci Dairy Company, and W. M. Sneddon, manager, Gord'n Road creamery, supported the motkn, and paid a high tribute of praise to the '■ Commissioner for his conduct of the proceedings. i->-v;|gj Tlie vote was then put and carriedYy i acclamation. The Commissioner, Mr. T. Harle Giles, ill reply said it was very pleasing to him to feel that in the discharge of his duties he had given satisfaction to al! the parties concerned. He eonsiderei that the amicable understanding which had ! been come to was in a great incisure due to the able conduct of the dispute by Mr. Pryor (secretary of tie Employers' Federation), assisted by Mr. T. Harry Penn (secretary of the Employers' Union), and also Mr. Coleman the able representative of the WorkcrV Union. These gentlemen had vied witn each other in endeavoring to arrive at a settlement, and had carried out their arduous duties in a kind and considerate manner, and had left no stone untuned to faithfully and honestly represent the parties for whom they appeared. T'ib dispute had happily ended without any bitterness or ill-feeling Having Been engendered between the employers and tbe employed, and nothing had "taken place to in the slightest degree interfere with the pleasant relations which should always exist between master and man. and without which no trade or industry could get along successfully, RECOMMENDATIONS. The following are the recommendations adopted:Hours of Work. 1. (a) The hours of work in buttir and cheese factories shall not exceed 70 hours per week of 7 days, exclusive of meal hours, (b) The hours of work in creameries shall be arranged between tlie employers and their respective workers. Overtime.

2. Any time worked in excess of the lionrs prescribed shall be paid for at the rate of time and a. quarter for th" first 4 hours and thereafter at the rale of time and a half. Wages in lintter and Cheese Factories :!. The following shall be the minimum rates of wages for workers employed in butter and cheese factories:—(a) When only one adult worker other than the manager is employed, he shall be paid not less than £2 per week, (b) Wber; two adult workers otuer than the manager arc employed the first assistant shall be paid £2 os ~er «eck, Second assistant £2 per week. (c.) Where three or more adult workers other taan the manager are employed:—ln other than branch cheese factories: First assistant £2 los per week, second assist ant £2 7s 6d per week, third assistant £2 per week. In branch cheese factories: First assistant £2 10s' per week second assistant £2 5s per week, third assistant £2 per week. (d) Other hands, not including youths, £1 17s Od per week, (e) Engine-driver, where cer tificate is required, £3 per week, (f) In addition to the wages herein pr •• scribed as above, milk, firewood, nd free sleeping accommodation shall he provided; and in the case of workers in butter factories, single men shall be supplied each with lib of butter per wi )k and married men each with 21b butter per week. Creamery Managers.

4. The wages of creamery managers' shall be not less; thau £2 5s per week, with firewood, milk, suitable living ac commodation and butter as above, Any creamery whose daily average supply during December does not exceed 1000 gallons shall be exempt from this awar

General. 5. Where any of the above-mentioned extras are not supplied, payment sha'i bo made in lieu thereof, the amount to he settled by agreement between the employer and the worker, and failing such an agreement then by the iocai Inspector of Factories. Employment of Youths.

(i. Youths over the age of 10 years may be employed in factories at not loss than the following wages: From 10 to 18 years of age, £1 per week; from 18 to 20 years of age, £1 10s per week. Holidays.

7. (a) Every worker who shall have worked for not less than 8 months during the same year for the same employe,shall be entitled to and shall receive 14 days' holiday on full pay, and a holiday of proportionate duration shall be allowed every worker who shall have worked less than eight months during the same year for the same employer, hut not less than 2 months. For th' purposes of this clause the year shall be reckoned in each case from the date of the commencement of the contract of service, (b) It shall, however', be optional with employers to give workers in cheese factories one day jicr week instead of the holiday prescribed in clause 7 (a), the aggregate of such days not to be less than the worker wouli receive under clause 7 (a).

Accommodation. 8. A bathroom for the use of workers shall be provided at all butter and cheese factories where two or more workers are employed. Piecework. !). Piecework shall not bo allowed. Contract. 10. Employers are entitled to have all or any part of their work done by contract, but in all cases where any work is let by contract the employer sDall make provision in every contract binding the contractor to pay any -worker employed by him on any tmeh contract the minimum rates of wages prescribed by this award, and to observe all the other conditions! of this award so far as tin; same are applicable to such workers. Payment of Wages, etc. 11. Wages shall be paid monthly, and not later than the 7th of the month. Fourteen days' notice of termination of engagement shall be given l>y cither aide. No Discrimination. 12. No employer shall discriminate against members of the Union, nor sliall any employer in the conduct of his busi ness do anything directly or indirectly for the purpose of injuring the Union. Term of Award. 13. Two years.