CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 244, 15 April 1912, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

NEW PDYUIOUTH SITTING. GENERAL LABORERS' DISPUTE. The Conciliation Council concluded its hearing of the New Plymouth laborers' dispute on Saturday morning. Mr. T. Harle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner for the northern and Taranaki industrial districts, presided. The assessors arrived at an understanding on all points excepting those relating to wages, preference, strikes, and the term during which the award should remain in currency. The following is a digest of the clauses agreed upon:—

Hours of 'Work—A full week's work shall consist of 47 hours daily, 'between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on Saturdays. In tunnel work eight hours per shift, with lialf an hour for crib time; six hours to constitute a day's work when workers are working in wet places or foul air. The New Plymouth Borougli Council is exempt from the overtime clause so far as it relates to men who are engaged in sweeping and clearing the streets, but such, men shall be entitled to overtime when the ordinary hours fixed for each day have been worked. Overtime.—All overtime worked shall be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter for the first two hours, time and a half thereafter upto 10 p.m., and double Itime between 10 p.m. and the ordinary time for commencing work next morning, if worked continuously. Suburban and County Work.—SubUrban work is deemed to be work performed not fewer than two miles from the New Plymouth Post Office, and country work not fewer than seven miles from an employer's place of business. The latter class of work only applies to laborers employed in connection with building operations. XJnder-rate Workers.—Any worker who considers himself incapable of earning the minimum wage may be paid such lower wage as may be fixed on the application of such worker, after due notice.

Existing Contracts.—ln regard to existing contracts : the provisions of the award shall not apply to "contracts entered into before the hearing of this dispute and uncompleted." Scope of the Award.—When the wages of a worker have already been fixed by an award of the Court or by any industrial agreement, this award shall not apply.

Applications for Exemption.—The assessors exempted the following firms:— Henry Brown and Co. (New Plymouth), I Sash and Door Company, New Plymouth | Express Company, and the Taranaki Pro- | dueers' Freezing Works Company. Exemptions were refused -to the New Ply. mouth Borough Council, New Plymouth Harbor Board, 'New Plymouth Gas Company, Taranaki Petroleum Company, and Taranaki County Council. COMMISSIONER COMPLIMENTED _ Regret was expressed hy the Commissioner that in the dispute before his notice it was very evident that a certain decision had been arrived at in the matter of wages before the employers' assessors came therei This, he thought, was not altogether in accord with the true spirit of conciliation.

To this Mr. Grayling rejoined that the employers had offered to take either the V\ elhngton or Invercargill awards, which meant an increase in wages in certain branches. -

Mr. Roper, an assessor for the employees, and Mr. Grenfell, representing ™ e fmployers' Associ <ition, complimented Mr. Giles on the able and impartial manner in which he had presided over the deliberations of the Council. In acknowledging the assessors' expressions of appreciation, the Commissioner said that it was always a pleasure to him to know that he had the confidence o. both sides and that in discharging his duties he did so in a fair and impartial maimer.

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS' DTiSFUTE. To-day the carpenters and joiners' dispute will lie begun. The assessors are: For the union, Ivor Uazell and G. Blotherwiek, of Wellington, and C. D. Arnold, of New Plymouth; for the employers, W. F. Brooking, J. W. Boon and F. A. Coleman, all of New Plymouth. Mr! Grenfell, secretary of the Employers' Association, Wellington, will appear for the employers.