117

I.—9a.

K. .1. SULLIVAN.

21. Do you not think it is only fair that where employees are obliged to work seven days v week that the employer should be on the sumo footing?—Wo provide for the public; we must eat seven days a week. 22. That is not the question at all?— Our business is supplying the public's needs. 23. There is nothing to prevent an employer who has to keep his business open seven days a week employing his hands ffve days and a half and giving them a whole holiday on a Sunday and the half -holiday 1 Quite light, if that man has not a business of the kind w<. , are discussing; but there are businesses that will not allow that. 24. What business?— Restaurants. 25. 1 am including restaurants. Why cannot a man give the same conditions as if he only worked six days a week.'—lt is v question of the nature of the business that he is doing. He cannot put on extra labour-; if he does it means more for wages. As far as some restaurants are concerned, they generally take half the staff on one Sunday and half the other Sunday; they provide teas and suppers. The hotels generally have no suppers and only occasional teas, and people coming back from late picnics at 6 and 7 o'clock will not be able to get into a restaurant and get something to eat. 26. The Chairman.] Do you not think that much trouble could be avoided if employers were compelled to pay their men by the hour —no monthly or annual wages? —Yes, I might, agree with that, provided the minimum was sufficiently low to allow the indifferent worker to be paid accordingly, otherwise the man who is a smart worker is not getting paid what he should be paid. In this way the best men would come to the front, and the other poor men would have to starve. 27. Mr. Carey.] You said in effect that when a Bill goes so far in certain respects there should be no exemptions?—No, 1 do not think 1 said that: 1 said that in one section of this Bill it is provided that when overtime is worked notice has to be given to the Inspector. 28. You do not want that? —No, 1 do not. 29. want greater privileges than other shopkeepers have.'—Our class of business is quite different, and necessitates different conditions. 30. You admit that this section already gives you a privileges over other shopkeepers?— Yes. 31. You said that boardinghouse-keepers say they had their position threshed out in the Arbitration Court, and you think that Parliament should refuse to legislate differently?— Certainly. 32. What is the remedy tor the worker in places like " (.ilenalvon " : what remedy do you suggest? —1 say, if you are going to have an Arbitration Court have it, and do not go see-sawing between the one and the other. 33. When the Arbitration Court has hail the privilege of deciding and has refused to decide, what remedy do you suggest then? —What remedy? Well, I should say, leave it. 34. Thin you would have such matters left I —Certainly. 35. Even where the worker labour 105 hours for 10s. a week? —Yes. 36. Do you know of any Australian State or any country where the matter of the regulation of hours and awards has been taken right out of the hands of Parliament and left to an Arbitration Court? —1 am afraid thai you are better conversant with the labour troubles than 1 am. 37. If I tell you that in my evidence I have staled that in no State of Australia has the Arbitration Court power to override ami set aside regulations made by statute, will you agree to that? —Yes, if you were on your oath. 38. Then you want an exception made in New Zealand .' Yes. quite reasonably. 1 think that the conditions there may be entirely different. 1 know that New Zealand was the only country in the world that gave Great Britain a Dreadnought. 39. Would you have that an exception: instead of the people making the labour laws of the country an Arbitration Court eati do so? —While it is law, yes. 40. In fact, you are asking that the hours of women workers in restaurants that have been fixed at fifty-two be increased to fifty-eight? —Yes, because you are asking six days instead of seven. 41. lion. Mr. Millar.\ Do you know the duties of the Judges of the Supreme Court?— Well, they have to decide on the evidence brought before them. 42. They have no power to make the laws?— No. 43. Do you consider the Arbitration Court should be placed on the same footing/—Certainly not. 44. You quite agree? —Yes. 16. Do you know when the hours of labour were lirst regulated by Parliament in New Zeal.md .'- 1 believe it was before the introduction of the Arbitration Court. Eon. Mr. Millar: It is a fact that the hours of labour are regulated by every Parliament in the world. 46. Mr. Greenfell.] Mr. Sullivan, are you an employer yourself in this relation?—No, I am not. lam president of this employers' union. 47. Are you an employer of labour at all? —Oh, yes. 48. In connection with the Arbitration Court proceedings, the Court goes fully into the details of the particular business over which it is presiding?—My experience has been so—most exhaustively into it. 49. And they have more evidence than would be submitted to the Committee of the House, a Committee like this? —Yes, I think so. 50. And dealing with each particular place?— Yes.