SOME STRAIGHT TALK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 21 January 1911, Page 2

SOME STRAIGHT TALK

CARPENTERS' CRIPPLING DEMANDS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. Some straight talk was indulged in by Mr. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, during the hearing to-day of the carpenters' and joiners' dispute. The union asks that the full working week shall consist of five days eacil of eight hours, that the minimum wage be Is Sd an hour, making £3 Gs 8d per week, that all time worked on Saturdays be paid for at the rate of doitnie time. Mr. Hally said he thought the union was making a mistake. 'You expect," lie added, "employers to give you a, forty hours week, but I cannot consider it a reasonable view at the present time. Had the union come along and said it wanted the same hours as elsewhere in New Zealand—44 hours—l candidly confess I believe employers would have met the union; but when you come and ask for forty hours 1 can only describe it as unreasonable. Then, again, you want wages increased from Is 4d an hour to Is Bd. This request is out of the question. I believe you have done this for the purpose of giving employment to a number of men who are unable to find it. I am of opinion that it would not only spoil any business, but would] cripple it altogether, as well as harass the trade." The hearing of the dispute ie proceeding.