CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 135, 29 November 1911, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

TUB TARANAKI PAINTERS AND DECORATORS' DISPUTE.

T!ie hearing of the Taranaki painters and decorators' dispute before the Conciliation Council, under the presidency of tlia Commissioner (Mr. T. Harlo Dili's), was continued at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday morning, and by 1 p.m. a full settlement was reached as follows:

The minimum rate of wages for all journeymen painters, paperhangers, glaziers, grainers, signwriters, decorators, and all other journeymen working at any branch of the trade, shall be not less than Is 3d per hour. The hours of labor per week are fixed at 44, and a Saturday half-holiday is recognised.

Overtime is to bo paid for at the following rates:—Time worked from the ordinary time of ceasing work up to 8 p.m., at the rate of time and a half; between 8 p.m. and the ordinary hour of commencing work, double time; on Saturdays, from the ordinary time of ceasing work till 8 p.m., time and a half; from 8 p.m. till midnight, double lime. On Sundays, Christmas Dav, Good Friday and Labor Day, double 'time.

Payment of wages is to be made on ■each Friday, at the shop of the employer, within thirty minutes of ceasing work; special arrangements are mado as to the payment of wages to the families of men working on country work.

The usual clauses pertaining to apprenticeship have been inserted, and tho wages of apprentices have been fixed at the following rates: —For first year 10s per week, second 12s 6d, third lfis, fourth 2r2s fid, fifth 30s. Apprentices are to be paid in full for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Labor Day. Overtime is to be paid at the rate "of Od per hour to the end of the third year, and 9d per hour to the end of the term of apprenticeship. No apprentice is to be allowed to work more than four hours' overtime in any one day. Country work means work performed by a journeyman or apprentice at a distance of over three miles from his employer's place of business.

Any journeyman working on country work shall be allowed to work any hours which may be mutually agreed upon between employer and employee, providing not less than Is 4%d per hour be paid for such time worked. Employees going to and returning from work from one and a half up to three miles are to be allowed y 2 d per mile extra.

The usual clause relating to incompetent workmen is also embodied in the recommendation.

Sub-letting Work.—No employer shall sub-let work or give piecework to any worker, and no journeyman working for an employer shall accept piece or contract work.

The following preference clause has been agreed upon:—"lt sliall be the duty of every employer, when employing a journeyman, to ascertain if he is a member of a union, and if he is not a member of the union the employer shall notify the secretary of the union accordingly within fourteen days as from the date of employing such journeyman. It shall be the duty of every non-unionist so employed to join the union within one week after receiving from the secretary of the union a request in writing to do so."

Compliance by the employer with the provisions of this clause shall relieve him from all liability under the provisions of this award relating to preference.

The scope of the award covers the whole of the Taranaki district. The term of the award is for one year, to commence as from February 1, 1912. At the close of the proceedings Mr. P. 0. Bellringer, on behalf of the employers' assessors, thanked the Commissioner for the valuable assistance rendered by him, which had resulted in the settlement of the dispute. He congratulated the employees' assessors on the very fair way in which they had presented their claim; the proceedings had been characterised by very pleasant relationship on both sides. He pointed out tliat those who were engaged in employing labor naturally did so with the hope of obtaining a profit. He was utterly opposed to anything in the nature of a system of "speeding up," but employers reasonably expected a fair return for the wages 'they paid. Mr. F. Reyling, on behalf of the union assessors, said it gave him great pleasure to endorse the remarks made by the previous speaker in relation to the great help the Council had received from the Commissioner, whose courteous conduct of the case had been appreciated by his union. He reciprocated the • kind remarks made by Mr. Bellringer regarding the actions of his colleagues and himself. He understood that there was very little friction existing between the Taranaki painters and their employers, and he sincerely hoped that the recommendations now arrived at would be found satisfactory to all concerned. !

The Commissioner, Mr. Giles, briefly returned thanks for the kindly remarks made and expressions of appreciation of his services. .... « •■»