UNION FORMED

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19878, 6 May 1936, Page 7

UNION FORMED

SOUTH ISLAND DOMEbTICb.‘ AWARD To B! SOUGHT. LABOUR LEADERS‘ ASSERTIONS. United Press Assn—Elec. Tel. Copyright. CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. Over 100 domestic servants who met It. the Trade: Mall last night unanimously deoldod to form a south Island Industrial union of workers. Provisional executive officers were appointed to apply for registration and to draft claims for an award. Mr J. Roberts. secretary of the New Zealnnd clothing trades federation, presided. “If there are two groups of workers in Newv Zealand to-day who are suffering under long hours and low wages," said Mr Roberts, “they are farm labourers and domes: tio servants. Under favourable legislotion a chance of improving their lot is at hand." Former Inert Failed. Mr Roberts added that an attempt to form a union had failed in 1907. through the introduciiOn or legislation to prevent domestic workers approaching the Arbitration Court for an award on the ground that. they were not employed in an industry trading for profit. The new Government, however, had promised to amend legislntlon and workers would be able to gain an award that had been denied them for so long. Mr Brooks. serretary of ihe Hotel and Restaurant Workers‘ Union. suglested the formation of a Soulh island Union as the best means of organising the workers. The North Island would probably follow the lead, and ulti—mately the two bodies could be merged into a national organisation. Torrißio Conditions. “ During the depression." Mr Brooks said. “many domestic servants were forced to put- up with terrible conditions. They were paid wages that were described as being ‘better than nothing.‘ and often their rooms were not fit for a dog to live in. This was the treatment they received (rom employers. who travelled about ' the country staying at expensive hotels where the turitY was 255 a day."