CONCILITION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 112, 27 September 1912, Page 7

CONCILITION COUNCIL.

PLUMBERS' DISPUTE. The . Conciliation Council commenced its sittings ;it New Plymouth yesterday' in the Municipal Chambers to hear the dispute between the Taranaki Federated l'hnnlier.i', (las-fitters, Tin-plate and Shcid-metal Workers and the Taranaki Master Plumbers. Mr. T. llarle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner for the northern industrial district, presided. The assessors for the employers were as follows: —Messrs W. N. Ewing, A. K. Smart and \V. 11. Crilliths; and those for the men Messrs P. Laiiimerton, J. Clark (Auckland) and 11. Thompson (Wellington). There were no advocates on either side. At the outset, the Commissioner explained that this was an application for a new award, and he had every reason to believe that they would come to a friendly settlement. Questioned by Mr. Cilcs. both parties of assessors'intimated that they were furnished with full powers to act. and it Tas agreed that whatever agreement was arrived at it should be binding on both parties.

UNION'S CLAIMS. The Union's statement of claims arts out a week of 44 hours, and a minimum wage of Is fid per hour, workers employed at re-tinning to be paid not less than 2s (id per hour. A leading hand, if is stipulated, shall receive 2d per hour over and alyjve his ordinary wages. Overtime and holiday work is asked for at the rati; of double time, Provision is made for carrying materials, four hours' notice of termination on either side, tools, suburban and country work. No piecework should be allowed, and work shall not be sublet. Job accommodation shall be**provided to the satisfaction of the secretary of the Union. Every employer shall be entitled to one apprentice, and thereafter the number employed shall not exceed one to every journeyman employed. The term of apprenticeship shall lie five years. The rates or pay for apprentice- >hall be: First year 7- (id a week, second year 12s (id, third vear 17s (id, fourth yearns, fifth year 112s'(id. Whenever practicable within the scope of the award, it shall be compiilsory'up'on employers to allow every apprentice plumber two half-days of labor a week in the first three years of his apprenticeship to attend a technical school for instruction in plumbing, and it shall be obligatory on such apprentice to attend according to the terms arranged. Provision is made for imder-rate workers, and with regard to the use of bicycles by employees it is provided that should a worker use his bicycle in proceeding to and from suburban or country work, lie shall, if he uses his bicycle' at the rate of eight miles an hour, receive ono. penny ;> mile for e-very mile or fraction of a mile traversed. No worker shall use or allow his bicycle to be used for the purpose of carrying any of the material or tools of an employer. Preference to unionists is stipulated.

THE COUNTF.R-I'JIOPOSALS. The employers in their eountcr-pro-pos.'ils stipulate a week of 47 hours. The rates of wageg proposed are: (a)

Every journeyman plumber who holds a certificate of tlie ordinary or honors grade granted by the City and Guilds of the- London Institute, or some other certificate of equal value, shall be paid not less than Is -id per hour; (1>) every other competent plumber, gaslitler, tinsmith or sheet-metal worker shall be paid not less than Is 1 '/.A per hour; (<•) tinsmiths engaged in re-tiuning shall he paid 2d per hour extra while actually engaged in re-tinning. Overtime shall be paid for at the following rates:—For the first three hours, time and a-i]iiarter> 1 hereafter till midnight, time and a-half ; from midnight till 0 a.m., double time; from 0 a.m. till ordinary time of starting work, time and a-quarter; for workdone on holidays, time and a-half; and on Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday double time. The proportion of apprentices shall he not more than one to every journeyman, and in computing the number of journeymen the employer shall he reckoned. The minimum rate of wages for apprentices or assistants shall be: For the first year 7s per week, second year lis per week, third year Ms per week, fourth year £l, fifth year £l. ss, sixth year £1 12s (id. Apprentices now under engagement shall remain as at present. The term of apprenticeship shall he six years. The award shall not apply to workers engaged in laying or repairing gas mains or gas fittings. No provision is made for' preference to unionists. Several applications were made, for exemption, hut decision was deferred, except in the case of %>ssrs Nicholls, of Tnglewood, who were struck out. It was decided to conduct the negotiations in committee.

The sitting lasted all day, in committee, good progress being made. The Council then adjourned till this morning.